Board of Legal SpecializationPractice Exam

What condition is indicated when a patient is unresponsive, not breathing, and has no central pulse?

1. Cardiac arrest

2. Respiratory failure

3. Shock

4. Cerebral hypoxia

The correct answer is: Cardiac arrest

The condition indicated by a patient who is unresponsive, not breathing, and has no central pulse is cardiac arrest. In this critically serious situation, the heart has stopped functioning effectively, leading to a cessation of blood circulation and, consequently, oxygen delivery to the body's tissues. This state results in the patient being unresponsive and without a palpable central pulse, which can be felt in the carotid arteries. The absence of breathing signifies that the patient is not ventilating, further emphasizing the life-threatening nature of cardiac arrest. Prompt recognition and response to cardiac arrest, including initiating cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and ensuring emergency medical services are called, are crucial for a chance of survival and minimizing potential brain damage due to lack of oxygen. Respiratory failure, shock, and cerebral hypoxia denote different medical emergencies that do not precisely fit the scenario described. Respiratory failure typically involves some degree of breathing effort remaining, shock represents a state of inadequate perfusion of tissues without necessarily indicating full arrest of cardiac function, and cerebral hypoxia specifically refers to insufficient oxygen supply to the brain but may not involve the absence of a pulse or unresponsiveness if other vital systems are still functioning.