Ontario Paramedic Practice Exam

If you suspect that the arrest origin is due to anaphylaxis, you should prioritize administering epinephrine.

1. True, adminstering epinephrine is the first priority

2. False, administration of epinephrine should never delay quality CPR and defibrillation

3. True, after confirming other causes

4. False, epinephrine is not necessary in anaphylactic arrest

The correct answer is: False, administration of epinephrine should never delay quality CPR and defibrillation

The statement that administering epinephrine should never delay quality CPR and defibrillation is accurate. In cases of cardiac arrest, regardless of the underlying cause, high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and early defibrillation are critical and should be prioritized. While epinephrine is an important medication in the management of anaphylaxis and can be life-saving, it should not take precedence over maintaining effective CPR and defibrillation efforts. The primary goal in any cardiac arrest scenario is to restore circulation and perfusion as quickly as possible. It's important to recognize that if anaphylaxis is suspected as the cause of arrest, epinephrine should be administered as soon as it does not interfere with the immediate resuscitation efforts. However, during the resuscitation process, the focus remains on ensuring adequate blood flow and oxygenation first. Thus, the emphasis on not allowing epinephrine administration to delay critical CPR and defibrillation aligns with current resuscitation guidelines and practices.