Asthmatic cardiac arrest ventilation — DipIMC MCQ

Correct answer: A — Use slow ventilations, allow expiratory time and treat reversible bronchospasm

Use slow ventilations, allow expiratory time and treat reversible bronchospasm is the best answer because asthma arrest requires avoiding gas trapping while treating severe bronchospasm. Use oral analgesia as the main treatment is less appropriate because oral therapy is inadequate or unreliable in major trauma; Give unrestricted crystalloid to normalise blood pressure is less appropriate because over-resuscitation can worsen bleeding when haemorrhage is uncontrolled. Immobilise every joint and delay departure for a detailed examination and Defer treatment until a senior hospital doctor reviews the patient are also suboptimal because they move attention away from the key pre-hospital priority.. The key DipIMC principle is to treat immediate reversible threats, communicate clearly and move the patient toward the right definitive care.

Reference: Resuscitation Council UK Guidelines; JRCALC Guidelines