Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Practice Exam

What rhythm is associated with a patient experiencing shortness of breath and a heart rate of 190/min?

1. Ventricular fibrillation

2. Atrial flutter

3. Stable supraventricular tachycardia

4. Asystole

The correct answer is: Stable supraventricular tachycardia

The correct answer is associated with a patient presenting with shortness of breath and a heart rate of 190 beats per minute, which suggests a rapid cardiac rhythm condition. In this scenario, stable supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is characterized by a rapid heart rate originating above the ventricles, typically involving the atria or the AV node. The heart rate in SVT can exceed 150 beats per minute and can reach rates like 190/min. Patients with this condition may experience symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, and occasionally chest discomfort. However, the term "stable" implies that the patient retains adequate hemodynamic status despite the elevated heart rate, distinguishing it from more severe variations of tachycardia where the patient might be unstable. In contrast, ventricular fibrillation is a chaotic and life-threatening rhythm without effective heart contractions, leading to collapse. Asystole represents a complete absence of electrical activity in the heart, indicating a state of clinical death. Atrial flutter can present with a rapid ventricular response, but it is often associated with a "sawtooth" pattern on an ECG and usually results in a heart rate that is lower than what is typically seen in stable SVT