A pre-hospital team is managing a patient in cardiac arrest who has a known peanut allergy and was eating when they collapsed. The team is unsure whet...

Question

A pre-hospital team is managing a patient in cardiac arrest who has a known peanut allergy and was eating when they collapsed. The team is unsure whether this is an anaphylaxis arrest or a choking arrest. The initial rhythm is PEA. What is the correct approach?

Accepted Answer

Treat ALL reversible causes simultaneously - perform laryngoscopy to assess for and clear any foreign body, administer IM adrenaline 500 micrograms (which treats both anaphylaxis and provides vasopressor support), give IV fluids, and continue standard ALS

Answer

Wait for the hospital to determine the cause

Answer

Do not attempt to identify the cause - standard ALS is sufficient

Answer

Only treat anaphylaxis - choking is irrelevant once the patient is in arrest

Answer

Only treat one possible cause at a time - choose the most likely

uk-dipimc MCQ (SBA): Uncertain Cause Cardiac Arrest - Simultaneous Treatment

A pre-hospital team is managing a patient in cardiac arrest who has a known peanut allergy and was eating when they collapsed. The team is unsure whether this is an anaphylaxis arrest or a choking arrest. The initial rhythm is PEA. What is the correct approach?