Final answer:
Upon finding the patient unresponsive, apneic, and pulseless, you should immediately start cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Continue CPR until professional help arrives or the patient recovers spontaneous heart activity.
Step-by-step explanation:
You are dispatched to a residence for a 66-year-old male who, according to family members, has suffered a massive stroke. Your primary assessment reveals that the patient is unresponsive, apneic, and pulseless. You should commence cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) immediately. Recovery from a stroke or TIA is strongly dependent on the speed of treatment, and in this case, the condition appears to have progressed to cardiac arrest. Performing high-quality chest compressions is critical, at a rate of 100 compressions per minute, to maintain circulation, especially to the brain to prevent further irreversible damage. CPR should be performed until the patient regains spontaneous contraction or is declared dead by an experienced healthcare professional.
Emergency neurological assessment is important as it guides healthcare providers in determining the location and severity of neurological damage, allowing for rapid and appropriate treatment. However, given the patient's current state, the priority is to address the cardiac arrest with CPR.