Question

You have analyzed a cardiac arrest patient's rhythm three times with the AED, separated by 2-minute cycles of CPR, and have received no shock messages each time. You should:

A: request a paramedic unit at the scene.
B: consider terminating resuscitation.
C: remove the AED and continue CPR.
D: continue CPR and transport at once.

Answer 1

In the case of receiving 'no shock' messages from an AED during a cardiac arrest, the correct action is to continue CPR and transport the patient urgently for advanced medical care.

Step-by-step explanation:

If you have analyzed a cardiac arrest patient's rhythm three times with the AED and received 'no shock' messages each time, the most appropriate action to take according to Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) guidelines is answer D: continue CPR and transport at once. Keeping up with CPR is critical for maintaining circulation to vital organs, and it is important that the patient receives advanced care as soon as possible. Meanwhile, transport to a hospital or the arrival of advanced medical personnel might provide opportunities for further interventions that can only be administered in a medical facility or by trained medical professionals, such as intravenous medications or expert-led resuscitation efforts.

Answer 2

You should continue CPR and transport the patient at once when an AED has been used three times with no shock advised, as the patient may still benefit from advanced medical care. So the correct option is D.

Step-by-step explanation:

If you are using an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) on a cardiac arrest patient and after three analysis cycles with the device no shock is advised, you should not remove the AED or stop resuscitation efforts. Instead, you should continue CPR and plan to transport the patient immediately. AEDs are designed to analyze the patient's heart rhythm and deliver a shock if necessary. If an AED repeatedly advises no shock, it suggests that the patient does not have a shockable rhythm, but CPR should be continued to provide circulatory and respiratory support until advanced medical care can be provided. Therefore, the appropriate response to the question is to continue CPR and transport the patient at once, because early advanced care can significantly affect the outcome. In the real-world setting, coordination with emergency medical services or a similar authority should also be done immediately if not already in place.