Chapter 01. Advanced Life Support in Perspective MCQ Questions

Summary of Advanced Life Support (ALS) in Perspective

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death in the UK.
In 2012, 16% of male and 10% of female deaths were due to CHD (~74,000 deaths).
There are nearly 500,000 hospital admissions related to CHD annually in the UK.
28,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs) occur each year in England, with a survival-to-discharge rate of ~8%.
In-hospital cardiac arrest incidence is 1.6 per 1,000 admissions, with a survival rate of 18.4%.
Key survival factors include early recognition, early CPR, early defibrillation, and post-resuscitation care.

Early recognition and calling for help – Immediate medical intervention can prevent cardiac arrest.
Early CPR – Helps maintain circulation until advanced treatment is available.
Early defibrillation – Increases survival rates, especially within 3-5 minutes.
Post-resuscitation care – Ensures recovery with minimal complications.

Bystander CPR improves survival by 2-4 times, but current rates are only 40%.
AEDs are deployed in <2% of OHCA cases before ambulance arrival.
Defibrillation within 3 minutes significantly increases survival chances.
Post-resuscitation care should focus on brain function, heart rhythm, and haemodynamic stability.

Hospitals must provide high-quality resuscitation services and ensure staff are trained.
The National Cardiac Arrest Audit (NCAA) and Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Outcomes project monitor resuscitation outcomes.
Reporting systems, such as the NRLS, help improve patient safety.

Designed for healthcare professionals expected to provide ALS in and out of hospitals.
Teaches ABCDE assessment, CPR, team-based cardiac arrest management, and non-technical leadership skills.
Available as a two-day face-to-face course or an eALS (blended learning) course.
Regular recertification is required to maintain ALS Provider status.