Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Practice Exam

What is the best strategy for performing high-quality CPR on a patient with an advanced airway in place?

1. Provide continuous chest compressions without pauses and 10 ventilations per minute

2. Perform 2 breaths after every 30 compressions

3. Use a bag-mask device exclusively to provide ventilations

4. Switch rescuers every 2 minutes to maintain effectiveness

The correct answer is: Provide continuous chest compressions without pauses and 10 ventilations per minute

Providing continuous chest compressions without pauses and administering 10 ventilations per minute is the best strategy for performing high-quality CPR on a patient with an advanced airway in place. When an advanced airway, such as endotracheal intubation, is present, the need for interruptions in chest compressions is minimized. Continuous compressions help to maintain coronary and cerebral perfusion during cardiac arrest, which is critical for improving the chances of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Ventilation at a rate of 10 breaths per minute ensures adequate oxygenation without disrupting the hemodynamic effects of chest compressions. This approach allows for effective ventilatory support while maintaining the quality of chest compressions that is essential for successful resuscitation efforts. The focus on high-quality compressions and strategic ventilations aligns with the current guidelines for CPR in patients with an advanced airway. In comparison, strategies involving pauses for ventilations or reliance on only bag-mask devices do not optimize the effectiveness of CPR in this scenario, as they can lead to interruptions that may compromise the overall success of the resuscitative effort.