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In cardiac arrest situations, which of the following conditions is a contraindication for administering Epinephrine?

a) Hypotension
b) Bradycardia
c) Anaphylaxis
d) Tachycardia

1 Answer

4 votes

Final answer:

Tachycardia is the condition listed that could be a relative contraindication for administering epinephrine in a cardiac arrest situation, as it might worsen an already fast heart rate. However, epinephrine is indicated and potentially lifesaving in cases of anaphylaxis, and may also be used in hypotension and bradycardia.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a cardiac arrest situation, there are no absolute contraindications for administering epinephrine; it is a frontline medication in the Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) protocols. However, to answer the presented multiple-choice question, tachycardia (d) is the condition among the listed options that could potentially be a relative contraindication, as epinephrine could exacerbate an already fast heart rate. When it comes to anaphylaxis (c), epinephrine is actually the primary treatment and is used to counter the severe allergic reaction that can cause respiratory distress and plummeting blood pressure, potentially leading to anaphylactic shock. Conditions such as hypotension (a) and bradycardia (b) are indications for the use of epinephrine in different protocols given its vasoconstrictive and chronotropic effects, respectively.

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