You and your partner arrive at the scene of a middle-aged man who collapsed about 5 minutes ago. He is unresponsive, apneic, and pulseless. Bystanders are present, but have not provided any care. You should...

Begin CPR and apply the AED without delay

A 40-year-old man is in cardiac arrest. Your partner is performing CPR. You are attaching the AED when the patient's wife tells you that he has an automatic implantable cardiac defibrillator (AICD). The AED advises that a shock is indicated. What should you do?

Deliver the shock followed by immediate resumption of CPR

A percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) restores blood flow to the ischemic myocardium by...

Dilating be affected coronary artery with a small inflatable balloon

After assisting your patient with prescribed nitroglycerin, you should...

Reassess the blood pressure within 5 minutes to detect hypotension

Which of the following statements regarding nitroglycerin is correct?

Nitroglycerin usually relieves anginal chest pain within 5 minutes

Common side effects of nitroglycerin include all of the following, EXCEPT...

Hypertension

Which of the following is LEAST important when obtaining a medical history from a patient with a chief complaint of chest discomfort?

Family history of hypertension

Upon arriving at the residence of a patient with a possible cardiac problem, it is MOST important to...

Assess the scene for potential hazards

A 66-year-old woman presents with a stabbing pain in the middle of her chest that radiates to her back. She tells you that the pain suddenly began about 30 minutes ago and has been severe since the onset. She has a history of hypertension, but admits to not being compliant with her regimen of antihypertensive medications. During the primary assessment, you find that her blood pressure is significantly higher in her left arm then it is in her right arm. What do the signs and symptoms MOST likely indicate?

Dissecting aortic aneurysm

Signs and symptoms of a hypertensive emergency would MOST likely be delayed in patients who...

Have chronic hypertension

A 67-year-old woman presents with difficulty breathing and chest discomfort that awakened her from her sleep. She states that she has congestive heart failure, has had two previous heart attacks, and has prescribed nitroglycerin. She is conscious and alert with adequate breathing. Her blood pressure is 96/64 mm Hg and her heart rate is 120 breaths/min. Treatment for this patient includes...

Placing her in an upright position

The purpose of defibrillation is to...

Stop the chaotic, disorganized contraction of the cardiac cells

Sudden-death following an AMI is most often caused by...

Ventricular fibrillation

Rapid, labored breathing in a patient with signs and symptoms of AMI should make you suspect...

Congestive heart failure

Common signs and symptoms of AMI include all of the following, EXCEPT...

Pain exacerbated by breathing

Angina pectoris occurs when...

Myocardial oxygen demand exceeds the supply

Risk factors for AMI that cannot be controlled include...

Family history

A patient with atherosclerotic heart disease experiences chest pain during exertion because the...

Lumen of the coronary artery is narrowed and cannot accommodate increased blood flow

Cardiac output may decrease if the heart beats too rapidly because...

There is not enough time in between contractions for the heart to refill completely

The inferior vena cava returns deoxygenated blood to the right side of the heart from all of the following areas, EXCEPT the...

Brain

The descending aorta divides into two iliac arteries at the level of the...

Umbilicus

The myocardium receives oxygenated blood from the _______, which originates from the ______.

Coronary arteries, aorta

The ability of cardiac muscle cells to contract spontaneously without a stimulus from a nerve source is called...

Automaticity

The electrical impulse generated by the heart originates in the...

Sinoatrial (SA) node

Blood that is ejected from the right ventricle...

Flows into the pulmonary arteries