Advanced Life Support (ALS) Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Red Cross Test Prep

In managing a patient with wide-complex ventricular tachycardia who has a detectable pulse, the appropriate action is often expert consultation and/or the administration of an antiarrhythmic medication. This is because wide-complex ventricular tachycardia can be indicative of underlying issues such as ischemia or structural heart disease, and it is essential to address these while stabilizing the patient.

The use of antiarrhythmic medications, such as amiodarone or lidocaine, can help restore normal rhythm and improve cardiac output without further compromising hemodynamics. Expert consultation allows for a tailored approach to the specific cause and management of the tachycardia, ensuring that more complex cases receive the necessary expertise in critical situations.

Other options such as immediate defibrillation are not appropriate in a situation where the patient has a pulse, as defibrillation is indicated for patients experiencing pulseless ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. Administration of epinephrine is typically reserved for scenarios such as cardiac arrest or severe bradycardia and not specifically for treating wide-complex tachycardia with a pulse. Cardiac pacing may be used in certain bradyarrhythmias or in cases of symptomatic slow heart rates but does not