Respond To Medical Emergencies - ARRT Radiography Exam

1. What is the first-line medication for anaphylaxis in the clinical setting?

   Epinephrine. Acts as a rapid vasoconstrictor and bronchodilator to counteract hypotension and airway edema in severe allergic reactions.

2. What is the correct compression rate for adult CPR?

   About $100$ to $120$ compressions per minute. Aligns with AHA guidelines to maintain effective blood flow during cardiac arrest, optimizing chances of return of spontaneous circulation.

3. What is the correct immediate action if a patient is unconscious with suspected hypoglycemia?

   Activate emergency response and maintain airway; nothing by mouth. Prevents aspiration by avoiding oral intake and ensures professional administration of glucose via IV or IM routes.

4. What is the correct immediate response to suspected airway obstruction with choking?

   Activate emergency response and initiate choking first aid. Combines rapid professional help with maneuvers like abdominal thrusts to dislodge the obstruction and restore airway patency.

5. Which vital sign finding most strongly suggests hypoxia requiring urgent action?

   Low oxygen saturation (SpO$_2$) with respiratory distress. Indicates inadequate oxygenation, necessitating urgent intervention to prevent organ damage and respiratory failure.

6. What is the recommended first step when a patient reports chest pain during an exam?

   Stop the exam, assess ABCs, and activate emergency response. Prioritizes halting the procedure to assess for cardiac events and summon help for potential myocardial infarction or other emergencies.

7. What is the recommended adult chest compression depth during CPR?

   At least $2$ inches (about $5$ cm). Ensures adequate cardiac output by compressing the heart sufficiently to circulate blood during arrest.

8. What is the priority position for a patient with suspected shock and no breathing issues?

   Supine with legs elevated if not contraindicated. Improves venous return and cardiac output by promoting blood flow from the lower extremities to the heart.

9. What is the correct adult CPR compression-to-ventilation ratio for a single rescuer?

   $30:2$. Balances circulation through compressions with oxygenation via ventilations to sustain vital organ perfusion in single-rescuer scenarios.

10. What is the hallmark presentation of anaphylaxis after contrast administration?

    Airway swelling and hypotension with rapid onset symptoms. Represents severe systemic allergic response to contrast, requiring immediate intervention to prevent fatal airway closure or circulatory collapse.

11. What is the correct response if a patient aspirates or vomits while supine on the table?

    Turn patient to the side, clear airway, and suction if available. Facilitates drainage of secretions and prevents further aspiration, maintaining airway patency in vulnerable positions.

12. Which option is the correct safety step immediately before delivering an AED shock?

    Ensure no one is touching the patient and announce "clear". Prevents accidental shock to rescuers, ensuring safe delivery of defibrillation during cardiac arrest management.

13. Which finding is most consistent with vasovagal syncope rather than anaphylaxis?

    Bradycardia with pallor and diaphoresis. Reflects vagal nerve activation causing slowed heart rate and vasodepression, unlike the tachycardia seen in anaphylaxis.

14. What is the correct immediate action when a patient is pulseless and not breathing?

    Activate code/EMS and begin high-quality CPR immediately. Follows cardiac arrest protocols to restore circulation and oxygenation through compressions and professional intervention.

15. What is the correct response when an AED advises "no shock advised" in a pulseless patient?

    Resume CPR immediately and reassess per AED prompts. Continues life support for non-shockable rhythms while allowing periodic rhythm checks to guide ongoing resuscitation efforts.

16. What is the correct immediate action when an AED becomes available during a code?

    Apply AED, follow prompts, and deliver shock if advised. Enables early defibrillation for shockable rhythms, improving survival rates in out-of-hospital cardiac arrests.

17. What is the correct immediate action if a diabetic patient is conscious with suspected hypoglycemia?

    Give fast-acting oral glucose if able to swallow safely. Rapidly raises blood glucose levels to reverse symptoms, provided swallowing reflex is intact to avoid aspiration risk.

18. Which finding suggests a stroke requiring urgent activation of emergency response?

    Sudden facial droop, arm weakness, or speech difficulty. Corresponds to the FAST criteria for identifying acute cerebrovascular events, prompting rapid intervention to minimize brain damage.

19. What is the immediate response to vasovagal syncope during an injection or IV start?

    Place supine, elevate legs, monitor vitals, maintain airway. Counters hypotension from vagal stimulation by enhancing circulation, while continuous monitoring detects any deterioration.

20. What is the first action when a patient shows signs of a medical emergency in radiology?

    Stop the exam and call for help per department protocol. Ensures patient safety by immediately halting potential harm from the procedure and obtaining professional assistance to address the emergency promptly.

21. What is the initial assessment sequence for an unresponsive patient (primary survey)?

    Assess responsiveness, then airway, breathing, and circulation (ABCs). Follows the standard primary survey protocol to quickly identify life-threatening issues in unresponsive patients, prioritizing airway management and vital functions.

22. What is the correct immediate action if a patient develops stridor after contrast injection?

    Call a code/activate EMS and prepare for airway support. Addresses potential airway compromise from allergic reaction, ensuring timely advanced support to prevent respiratory arrest.

23. What is the correct immediate action for suspected contrast extravasation at the IV site?

    Stop injection, assess site, elevate, and notify provider. Prevents further tissue damage from infiltrating contrast, with elevation reducing swelling and prompt notification ensuring medical oversight.

24. Which option best distinguishes a mild allergic reaction from anaphylaxis after contrast?

    Anaphylaxis involves airway compromise and/or hypotension. Highlights the life-threatening features of anaphylaxis, differentiating it from milder reactions that lack systemic involvement.

25. What is the correct immediate action for a patient having an active generalized seizure?

    Protect from injury, maintain airway, and do not restrain. Minimizes harm during convulsive activity by preventing falls and aspiration without interfering with the seizure process.

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