Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Practice Exam

What is the recommended intervention for a patient who has experienced a witnessed loss of consciousness?

1. Monitor the patient's vital signs

2. Defibrillation

3. Administer IV fluids

4. Provide continuous positive airway pressure

The correct answer is: Defibrillation

In the case of a witnessed loss of consciousness, it is critical to assess whether the patient has experienced a cardiac arrest or a serious arrhythmia that requires immediate attention. Defibrillation is the recommended intervention in situations where a patient presents with loss of consciousness due to a shockable rhythm, such as ventricular fibrillation (VF) or pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VT). Defibrillation delivers an electrical shock to the heart, aiming to restore a normal rhythm. The quick recognition of the need for defibrillation and its timely administration can be life-saving, especially in an emergency setting where every second counts. It is important to connect the patient's heart to a defibrillator and analyze the rhythm to determine if defibrillation is necessary. In contrast, other interventions such as monitoring vital signs, administering IV fluids, or providing continuous positive airway pressure do not address the immediate need for rhythm correction in the event of a cardiac emergency associated with loss of consciousness. Monitoring vital signs is essential but not a definitive life-saving measure in this acute scenario, while IV fluids may be more relevant in addressing shock from non-cardiac causes and positive airway pressure is typically indicated for respiratory distress rather than cardiac events.