Question

Which of the following patients should have an automated external defibrillator��� applied?

A. A��� 6-month-old in severe respiratory distress
B. A��� 67-year-old man with��� severe, crushing chest pain that is not relieved by nitroglycerin
C. A��� 19-year-old college athlete who collapsed during football practice and is pulseless and apneic
D. A��� 40-year-old female in cardiac arrest due to chest injuries sustained in a motor vehicle crash

Answer 1

A 19-year-old college athlete who is pulseless and apneic after collapsing during football practice is the patient who should receive an automated external defibrillator (AED) intervention.

Step-by-step explanation:

An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a lifesaving device used to correct abnormal heart rhythms such as ventricular fibrillation, commonly seen during a heart attack. Among the patient cases presented, the AED should be applied to a '19-year-old college athlete who collapsed during football practice and is pulseless and apneic'. This situation indicates sudden cardiac arrest, which is the appropriate indication for using an AED. Patients in severe respiratory distress, severe chest pain not relieved by medication, or cardiac arrest due to chest injuries may not benefit directly from an AED without addressing the underlying causes of their conditions. When a patient experiences a cardiac arrest with no pulse and no breathing, using an AED with CPR as appropriate can help reestablish a normal heart rhythm and potentially save a life.