PALS Systematic Approach Algorithm Quiz & Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is the initial impression of the PALS systematic approach algorithm?

Appearance, Breathing, Color

Is the child or is immediate needed?

unresponsive, intervention

What is the next step if the child is determined to be unresponsive or immediate intervention is needed?

Activate emergency response

After the emergency response is activated, what is the next intervention?

Check for breathing and a pulse Signup and view all the answers

What should be done after it is determined that the child has no pulse?

Begin CPR Signup and view all the answers

What should you do if a child is unresponsive, not breathing, and has a pulse?

Open the airway and provide ventilation and oxygen Signup and view all the answers

What is the next intervention if a child has a pulse less than 60/min and shows signs of poor perfusion?

Begin CPR Signup and view all the answers

What are the three actions in the right branch of the PALS systematic approach algorithm?

Evaluate, Identify, Intervene Signup and view all the answers

What clinical assessment tools are used in the evaluate portion of the evaluate-identify-intervene sequence?

Diagnostic tests, Secondary assessment, Primary assessment Signup and view all the answers

The sequence of evaluate-identify-intervene should be used before and after each intervention and should continue until the child is stable.

True Signup and view all the answers

A consistent respiratory rate less than 10 or more than _____ breaths per minute in a child of any age is abnormal.

60 Signup and view all the answers

The primary objective of the airway assessment in the ABCDE model is to assess airway _________.

patency Signup and view all the answers

What does ABCDE stand for in the primary assessment?

Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure Signup and view all the answers

What are some simple measures for maintaining airway patency?

Head tilt chin lift, Jaw thrust, Nasopharyngeal airway Signup and view all the answers

Select the non-respiratory causes of tachypnea.

High Fever Signup and view all the answers

What does Assessment of Breathing include?

Respiratory rate and effort, Chest expansion in air movement, Lung and airway sounds, O2 saturation Signup and view all the answers

Stridor is a sign of lower airway problem.

False Signup and view all the answers

Grunting is often a sign of lung tissue disease resulting from small airway collapse.

True Signup and view all the answers

What are the descriptions of Stridor, Grunting, Gurgling, Wheezing, and Crackles?

Stridor: Higher pitched sound heard during inspiration; Grunting: Low pitched sound during expiration; Gurgling: Bubbling sound during inspiration or expiration; Wheezing: High or low pitched sound during expiration; Crackles: Associated with pneumonia. Signup and view all the answers

An oxygen saturation of ≥ _____% usually indicates adequate oxygenation.

94 Signup and view all the answers

What are indirect indicators of circulatory status?

Urine output, Level of consciousness Signup and view all the answers

What is the most common cause of bradycardia in children?

Hypoxia Signup and view all the answers

Tachycardia is a normal physiologic response in the critically ill child?

True Signup and view all the answers

An observed decrease in systolic blood pressure of ________ mm Hg from baseline should prompt evaluation for signs of shock.

10 Signup and view all the answers

In healthy children, the heart rate with inspiration and with expiration.

increases, decreases Signup and view all the answers

When assessing circulation, it is only necessary to assess the central pulses.

False Signup and view all the answers

What is a common cause of vasoconstriction and a discrepancy between the peripheral and central pulses in children?

Cold environment Signup and view all the answers

Normal capillary refill time in children is ___________.

≤ 2 seconds Signup and view all the answers

What are the definitions of Pallor, Mottling, Cyanosis, Acrocyanosis, and Peripheral cyanosis?

Pallor: Paleness in skin or mucous membrane; Mottling: Irregular discoloration of skin; Cyanosis: Blue discoloration of skin/mucous membranes; Acrocyanosis: Bluish hands/feet seen in newborns; Peripheral cyanosis: Bluish hands/feet beyond newborn period. Signup and view all the answers

A low hemoglobin (anemia) may make it harder to detect cyanosis in a critically ill child.

True Signup and view all the answers

What is the quick evaluation of neurologic function known as?

Disability Signup and view all the answers

What signs may be present with sudden and severe cerebral hypoxia?

Decreased LOC, Loss of muscular tone, Generalized seizures, Pupil dilation Signup and view all the answers

When cerebral hypoxia develops more gradually, the neurologic signs are the same as when severe cerebral hypoxia develops suddenly.

False Signup and view all the answers

What does the AVPU scale evaluate?

Cerebral cortex function and level of consciousness Signup and view all the answers

The child's best responses in the Glasgow coma scale are scored on the _____________ response.

motor Signup and view all the answers

Pupil response to light is an indicator of ______________ function.

Brainstem Signup and view all the answers

What standard evaluations are included in the disability assessment?

AVPU scale, Glasgow coma scale, Pupil response to light, Blood glucose test Signup and view all the answers

The E of the ABCDE primary assessment acronym stands for: ____________.

Exposure Signup and view all the answers

What does the secondary assessment consist of?

Focused history, Focused physical exam Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary diagnostic test for assessing the severity of respiratory problems?

Arterial blood gas Signup and view all the answers

Within the evaluate-identify-intervene sequence, there are three clinical assessments: primary assessment, secondary assessment, and _________ tests.

diagnostic Signup and view all the answers

What do the following abbreviations stand for: pH, PaO₂, PaCO₂, HCO₃, SaO₂?

pH: acid-base balance; PaO₂: adequacy of oxygenation; PaCO₂: adequacy of ventilation; HCO₃: source of acid-base disturbance; SaO₂: oxygen saturation percentage. Signup and view all the answers

Hemoglobin concentration determines the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood.

True Signup and view all the answers

In the seriously ill or injured child, the arterial lactate level can __________ as a result of tissue hypoxia.

rise Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

PALS Systematic Approach Algorithm Overview

Initial impression involves assessing appearance, breathing, and color.
Determine if the child is unresponsive or needs immediate intervention.
If unresponsive, activate emergency response.

Emergency Response Steps

After activating emergency response, check for breathing and pulse.
Begin CPR if no pulse is found.
If a pulse is present, open the airway and provide ventilation and oxygen.

Evaluate-Identify-Intervene Sequence

Right branch involves three actions: evaluate, identify, intervene.
Evaluation includes diagnostic tests, primary assessment, and secondary assessment.
Primary assessment utilizes ABCDE model (airway, breathing, circulation, disability, exposure).

Respiratory Assessment

Consistent respiratory rate < 10 or > 60 breaths/min is abnormal.
Airway assessment's primary objective is to ensure airway patency.
Simple airway maintenance techniques include head tilt-chin lift and jaw thrust.

Vital Signs and Indicators

Oxygen saturation ≥ 94% indicates adequate oxygenation.
Direct indicators of circulatory status include heart rate, pulses, capillary refill, skin color, and blood pressure.
Indirect indicators are urine output and level of consciousness.

Circulatory Status

Common cause of bradycardia in children is hypoxia.
Tachycardia is a normal physiological response in critically ill children.
Capillary refill time in children should be ≤ 2 seconds.

Neurological Assessment

Disability section evaluates neurologic function using the AVPU scale (Alert, Voice, Painful, Unresponsive).
Glasgow coma scale primarily assesses motor responses.
Pupil response to light indicates brainstem function.

Condition Indicators

Sudden severe cerebral hypoxia may present with decreased LOC, loss of muscular tone, seizures, and pupil dilation.
Signs of respiratory distress include stridor (upper airway) and grunting (lung tissue disease).

Blood Gas Values

pH indicates acid-base balance; PaO₂ measures oxygenation; PaCO₂ assesses ventilation adequacy.
HCO₃ helps determine the source of an acid-base disturbance.
Hemoglobin concentration affects the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity.

Emergency Procedures

After the primary assessment, secondary assessment involves focused history and physical exam.
Diagnostic tests, like arterial blood gas, evaluate respiratory problem severity.
If systolic BP drops by 10 mm Hg from baseline, further evaluation is necessary.

Common Misconceptions

Grunting indicates lung tissue disease, while stridor signals upper airway problems.
A low hemoglobin level can complicate cyanosis detection.

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Test your knowledge on the PALS systematic approach algorithm through these flashcards. Each card challenges you to recall key characteristics and decisions involved in pediatric assessments. Perfect for medical students and professionals looking to sharpen their skills.

PALS Systematic Approach Algorithm Quiz

Questions and Answers

What is the initial impression of the PALS systematic approach algorithm?

Is the child __________ or is immediate __________ needed?

What is the next step if the child is determined to be unresponsive or immediate intervention is needed?

After the emergency response is activated, what is the next intervention?

What should be done after it is determined that the child has no pulse?

What should you do if a child is unresponsive, not breathing, and has a pulse?

What is the next intervention if a child has a pulse less than 60/min and shows signs of poor perfusion?

What are the three actions in the right branch of the PALS systematic approach algorithm?

What clinical assessment tools are used in the evaluate portion of the evaluate-identify-intervene sequence?

The sequence of evaluate-identify-intervene should be used before and after each intervention and should continue until the child is stable.

A consistent respiratory rate less than 10 or more than _____ breaths per minute in a child of any age is abnormal.

The primary objective of the airway assessment in the ABCDE model is to assess airway _________.

What does ABCDE stand for in the primary assessment?

What are some simple measures for maintaining airway patency?

Select the non-respiratory causes of tachypnea.

What does Assessment of Breathing include?

Stridor is a sign of lower airway problem.

Grunting is often a sign of lung tissue disease resulting from small airway collapse.

What are the descriptions of Stridor, Grunting, Gurgling, Wheezing, and Crackles?

An oxygen saturation of ≥ _____% usually indicates adequate oxygenation.

What are indirect indicators of circulatory status?

What is the most common cause of bradycardia in children?

Tachycardia is a normal physiologic response in the critically ill child?

An observed decrease in systolic blood pressure of ________ mm Hg from baseline should prompt evaluation for signs of shock.

In healthy children, the heart rate __________ with inspiration and __________ with expiration.

When assessing circulation, it is only necessary to assess the central pulses.

What is a common cause of vasoconstriction and a discrepancy between the peripheral and central pulses in children?

Normal capillary refill time in children is ___________.

What are the definitions of Pallor, Mottling, Cyanosis, Acrocyanosis, and Peripheral cyanosis?

A low hemoglobin (anemia) may make it harder to detect cyanosis in a critically ill child.

What is the quick evaluation of neurologic function known as?

What signs may be present with sudden and severe cerebral hypoxia?

When cerebral hypoxia develops more gradually, the neurologic signs are the same as when severe cerebral hypoxia develops suddenly.

What does the AVPU scale evaluate?

The child's best responses in the Glasgow coma scale are scored on the _____________ response.

Pupil response to light is an indicator of ______________ function.

What standard evaluations are included in the disability assessment?

The E of the ABCDE primary assessment acronym stands for: ____________.

What does the secondary assessment consist of?

What is the primary diagnostic test for assessing the severity of respiratory problems?

Within the evaluate-identify-intervene sequence, there are three clinical assessments: primary assessment, secondary assessment, and _________ tests.

What do the following abbreviations stand for: pH, PaO₂, PaCO₂, HCO₃, SaO₂?

Hemoglobin concentration determines the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood.

In the seriously ill or injured child, the arterial lactate level can __________ as a result of tissue hypoxia.

Study Notes

PALS Systematic Approach Algorithm Overview

Emergency Response Steps

Evaluate-Identify-Intervene Sequence

Respiratory Assessment

Vital Signs and Indicators

Circulatory Status

Neurological Assessment

Condition Indicators

Blood Gas Values

Emergency Procedures

Common Misconceptions

Studying That Suits You

Description

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Is the child or is immediate needed?

In healthy children, the heart rate with inspiration and with expiration.