An unconscious patient is bought in by EMS into an ER trauma room. Patient has no detectable pulse, and the ECG baseline waveform shows grossly irregular fluctuations with a zigzag pattern
What is the course of action to treat this patient?
1. Rapid defibrillation
2. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
3. Administration of oxygen
4. Administration of an antiarrhythmic medication
a. 1, 2, and 3 only
b. 2 and 4 only
c. 3 only
d. 1, 2, 3, and 4
ANS: D
Ventricular fibrillation (VF) is the most life-threatening arrhythmia and is defined as erratic quiv-ering of the ventricular muscle mass. It causes the cardiac output to drop to zero; the patient be-comes unconscious and represents a true medical emergency. The electrocardiographic tracing of ventricular fibrillation shows grossly irregular fluctuations with a zigzag pattern. Treatment calls for rapid defibrillation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and administration of oxygen and anti-arrhythmic medications, as well as treatment of the underlying cause of the ischemia. Survivors of VF usually receive an internal cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD).
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A driver was ejected from his vehicle in a rollover-type collision. Assessment findings reveal the patient to be unresponsive, with bruising to the abdominal and pelvic areas as well as an open femur fracture. The patient has an open airway and is breathing 32 times per minute. When you listen to breath sounds, you find them to be absent over the alveolar areas of the lungs. The patient's skin is cool and clammy and the radial pulses weak. Manual spine motion restriction is being maintained. What should your next intervention be?
A) Obtain a blood pressure B) Assist respirations C) Examine the fracture site D) Apply a cervical collar
During ventilation with VC-CMV, pleural drainage leaks sometimes can be compensated for by increasing which of the following?
a. The number of chest tubes b. The set tidal volume c. The set pressure limit d. The set peak inspiratory flow
Which of the following refers to rules and standards of care developed by Medicare in which healthcare organizations must comply?
A) Conditions of participation B) Accreditation for participation C) Standards of participation D) Contracts for participation E) All of the above
Hypoplastic anemia is reported with code ____________________.
Fill in the blank(s) with the appropriate word(s).