Florida State Paramedic Practice Exam

What should be done for an unconscious patient experiencing ventricular tachycardia with no vitals?

1. Administer CPR

2. Defibrillate with 200 J

3. Intubate the patient

4. Give epinephrine

The correct answer is: Defibrillate with 200 J

In the scenario of an unconscious patient experiencing ventricular tachycardia (VT) with no detectable vitals, the priority is to restore an effective cardiac rhythm. Defibrillation is the recommended immediate intervention for unstable VT, especially when the patient is unresponsive and lacks a pulse. Defibrillation is a crucial step because it delivers a controlled electrical shock to the heart, aiming to reset the electrical activity and allow for a more coordinated and effective heartbeat to resume. The choice of 200 joules is appropriate and corresponds with the guidelines for defibrillation in cases of ventricular tachycardia. While CPR is essential in many cardiac scenarios, in the case of an unconscious patient with no vitals from a known cause of unstable VT, defibrillation takes precedence. Intubation is not the immediate focus; ensuring an effective rhythm is critical first. Epinephrine, while important for other cardiac arrest scenarios, is not the first-line treatment for ventricular tachycardia. Thus, the use of defibrillation is the correct and most effective action in this emergency situation.