ACLS Megacode Scenario 2 | ACLS-Algorithms.com

Comments

  1. Adelino says

    Jeff,
    the monitor above indicates a HR equal to 37.5 bpm. However, the caption above indicates 60 bpm. Am I right ?
    Congratulations for this course. It is wonderful.
    Adelino

    • Jeff with admin. says

      There is a black horizontal line above the multiple choice questions. Anything above the black horizontal line if information from the beginning of the scenario and does not change. As a scenario progresses, look at the information below the black horizontal line.
      Kind regards,
      Jeff

  2. Scarlett Estes says

    After the patient stabalized ( the last question) why do you give amio. You are in bradycardia , right?

    • Jeff with admin. says

      Since the rhythm converted after the use of amiodarone, it use in the post arrest phase as an infusion is an option. Some providers prefer to do this since the amiodarone was effective for conversion.
      It appears that AHA may be phasing this out due to lack of research that shows any positive changes in outcomes, but I have included because the AHA manual continues to list the amiodarone infusion in the manual. See pg. 165.

      Kind regards,
      Jeff
      http://www.acls-algorithms.com

      • bashaga01 says

        so would you begin your amio infusion at slow or maintenance infusion? 1mg/min or 0.5mg/min

      • Margaret Whitehead says

        I think the Amniodarone infusion on page 61 is refering to the treatment of tachy rhythms only not pulseless vtach/vfib. On the bottom of page 77 of the AHA ACLS book, it states that there is no evidence to support cont. prophylactic administration of antiarrhythmic meds once the pt achieves ROSC. By the way, I love your site. I use it to review before teaching.

  3. veena says

    In megacode scenario #2 question,i didnt understand the concept of giving epineprine after cpr.Usually the sequence is cpr–shock–cpr–shock–epineprine.Am i right?please clarify my doubt.I am preparing for ACLS.

    • Jeff with admin. says

      If you look at the sequence carefully it has epinephrine given as you begin CPR after the 2nd shock. The first dose of epinephrine is given after the 2nd shock as you begin CPR and after that it is given every 3-5 mintues. Giving as you start CPR ensures that the dose will rapidly be put into the system with the pressure generated by chest compressions.

      Kind regards,
      Jeff

    • REne says

      Veena- shockable rhythms are shocked- then CPR 2minutes- rythm check then shocked. SInce 2 cycles of CPR equals 4 minutes.. the drug in this case epi can be given after every other rythm check since the dosing is 3-5 minutes. 🙂

  4. VEENA says

    Hi Jeff,
    Could you explain me how atropine improves poor perfusion.Heartfull of thanks for your interesting studysite.

    • Jeff with admin. says

      Atropine can improve perfusion by stimulating the heart to beat faster.
      Atropine blocks the action of the vagus nerve, as a part of the parasympathetic system of the heart whose main action is to decrease heart rate. Therefore, its primary function in this circumstance is to increase the heart rate to improve perfusion.
      Kind regards,
      Jeff

    • Jeff with admin. says

      I have seen health care providers start CPR with severe bradycardia, and I would be ok with that if the cause of the bradycardia were not clear. If you can palpate a pulse, and you recognize some other intervention that could correct the bradycardia then the other intervention should be addressed as the priority. In this scenario the most likely cause of the bradycardia is hypoxia related to decreased oxygen levels (the nasal cannula is laying beside her in the bed), and therefore you should treat for the most likely cause of the bradycardia. However, in a real situation if it is difficult to palpate a pulse then by all means start chest compressions.
      Kind regards,
      Jeff

    • Jeff with admin. says

      You would shock and consider a second dose of amiodarone because the first dose of amiodarone did not convert the rhythm. The amiodarone should be considered as you are shocking so that preparation can be made to give it with the upcoming 5 cycles of CPR if the shock fails to convert the rhythm.

      Kind regards,
      Jeff

  5. Susan S-L says

    On question 13 on megacode 2; the correct
    series of events according to the answer was:

    shock-> CPR-> shock.
    Shouldn’t it have been: shock-> CPR -> Med?

    Please advise.
    Thanks much.

    • Jeff with admin. says

      The rhythm changed from asystole to VF. This would move you from the right branch of the pulseless arrest algorithm to the left branch. Starting from the top of the left branch, you would first shock > then CPR >then rhythm check > then shock >then CPR and epinephrine/vasopressin > then rhythm check > then shock > then CPR and amiodarone > etc.

      Technically, you start at the top of the left branch of the pulseless arrest algorithm, you will give the first dose of epinephrine after the 2nd shock.

      Kind regards,
      Jeff

  6. silliv says

    Jeff, if you have shocked the pt. the third time and now you give amio, are you still giving the epi every 3-5 minutes after the first epi was given? So the pt. is getting epi every 3-5 min in a code and amio on top of that also? Thanks

    • Jeff with admin. says

      Yes, you will continue to give epinephrine every 3-5 minutes. Once the first dose is given, it is essentially on its own time table to every 3-5 minutes as long as the rhythm does not change.
      Kind regards,
      Jeff

    • Jeff with admin. says

      If the patient is unstable then you would want to move to TCP as soon as possible. If you do not have TCP, or if the patient is stable but worsening, then you could repeat the atropine. Atropine may be repeated every 3-5 minutes with the Max total being 3 mg of atropine given.
      Kind regards,
      Jeff

  7. Dustin says

    Probably wrong here but I thought that with amiodarone you should go 4 minutes or 2 complete cycles before the second administration of 150mg amiodarone. Question 15 (second scenario) states that after only 5 cycles (2 minutes) you should consider the additional 150mg dose of amiodarone.
    thx

    • Jeff with admin. says

      Hi Dustin,

      Thanks for the question.
      The ACLS Manual requires at least one full 2 minute cycle, but there is nothing that says it cannot be two cycles. Mainly, the concern is that the first dose of amiodarone is circulated well.

      Kind regards,
      Jeff

  8. Barbara says

    Hey what a great site! i wish I had seen this prior to my recert for ACLS..but now having found it, I will share with all my collegues. It is a fabulous way to build up one’s confidence and allow all of us a chance to practice in bewteen ACLS testing. The mega code section is especially helpful along with the questions and answers posted. Thanks for making it a lot easier than ever to ‘get it right’!

  9. vikki hickmann says

    question no 6 on megacode scenario 2 has the wrong answer. In the acls book the dose for epi drip is 2-10 mcg/kg/min. You state the answer is 2-10 mcg/min

    • Jeff with admin. says

      On page 109 there is a diagram that lists the recommended dosages for the epinephrine drip in the bradycardia algorithm. Careful observation shows epinephrine as 2-10 mcg/min.
      Dopamine is 2-10 mcg/kg/min.
      Kind regards,
      Jeff

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