Florida State Paramedic Practice Exam

Which rhythms need to be defibrillated as soon as possible?

1. Asystole and PEA

2. V-fib and pulseless V-tach

3. Sinus bradycardia and tachycardia

4. V-tach with a pulse

The correct answer is: V-fib and pulseless V-tach

Defibrillation is an essential intervention for certain cardiac rhythms that indicate a critical situation where the heart is unable to effectively pump blood. Specifically, ventricular fibrillation (V-fib) and pulseless ventricular tachycardia (pulseless V-tach) are two rhythms that lead to the most immediate risks of cardiac arrest and require prompt defibrillation to restore a normal rhythm. In V-fib, the heart's electrical activity becomes chaotic, preventing it from contracting effectively, which results in a lack of blood flow to the body, including the brain. Similarly, in pulseless V-tach, the heart is beating at a rapid rate without any effective output, again leading to inadequate blood circulation. In both cases, defibrillation works by delivering an electrical shock to the heart, aiming to reset the electrical activity and restore a normal rhythm. The other rhythms mentioned in the options—such as asystole, PEA (pulseless electrical activity), sinus bradycardia, and tachycardia—do not respond to defibrillation in the same manner. Asystole and PEA involve either no electrical activity or organized electrical activity without effective contraction, both of which are managed differently, typically requiring advanced cardiac life