Adult PEA arrest — DipIMC MCQ

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EasyResuscitationAdult PEA arrestDipIMC

A woman is in cardiac arrest with organised electrical activity at 40 bpm and no pulse. IV access has been obtained and CPR is ongoing. What is the most appropriate drug/dose?

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Correct answer: B — Adrenaline 1 mg IV as soon as possible

Option B is correct because Non-shockable cardiac arrest should receive adrenaline 1 mg IV as soon as vascular access is available. Option A is less appropriate because that dose is an ALS cardiac-arrest dose and is unsafe for this non-arrest indication; option D is less appropriate because aspirin is useful in ACS but inappropriate for this presentation. Option E is less appropriate because untitrated opioid dosing can cause avoidable hypotension or respiratory depression; option C is less appropriate because steroids have delayed onset and should not replace the immediate treatment. Clinical pearl: in DipIMC-style questions, the best answer is the intervention that changes outcome earliest in the pre-hospital phase.

Reference: Resuscitation Council UK Guidelines