Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Practice Exam

What should be the focus of post-cardiac arrest care?

1. Preventing future cardiac events

2. Minimizing patient distress

3. Restoring circulation and oxygenation

4. Improving quality of life

The correct answer is: Restoring circulation and oxygenation

The focal point of post-cardiac arrest care is to effectively restore circulation and oxygenation to the body. When a patient has experienced a cardiac arrest, the immediate concern upon return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) is to ensure that the heart is functioning adequately to provide sufficient blood flow to vital organs, particularly the brain. This is vital because prolonged periods of inadequate blood flow can lead to serious complications such as brain injury or multiple organ dysfunction. Restoring circulation also involves addressing any remaining issues that may have contributed to the cardiac arrest, such as dysrhythmias, oxygenation deficits, and ensuring that the patient's body temperature is appropriately managed. This aligns with the principles of post-cardiac arrest care, which emphasize stability in hemodynamic status and the prevention of further deterioration. While aspects such as preventing future cardiac events, minimizing patient distress, and improving quality of life are certainly important components of comprehensive patient care, they follow after immediate physiological stabilization is achieved through restoration of circulation and oxygenation. These factors contribute to the overall management plan but are secondary to the essential task of ensuring that the patient has adequate blood flow and oxygen delivery to recover successfully from the event.