Advanced Medical Life Support Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Study Guide

The management protocol for anaphylaxis emphasizes the immediate administration of epinephrine as the first line of treatment. Epinephrine acts promptly to counteract the life-threatening aspects of anaphylaxis by causing vasoconstriction, which helps to increase blood pressure, and bronchodilation, which alleviates respiratory distress. It also significantly reduces swelling and urticaria often associated with allergic reactions.

By using epinephrine, you target the primary physiological changes occurring during anaphylaxis rapidly, which is crucial because delays in treatment can lead to severe complications or even death. Immediate administration is vital, typically via intramuscular injection, to ensure its effectiveness, especially in cases where the patient may be experiencing difficulty breathing or cardiovascular collapse.

While antihistamines and corticosteroids can play roles in the overall management of allergic reactions, they do not provide the immediate response required in true anaphylaxis. Antihistamines can help alleviate some symptoms but are not effective in reversing the life-threatening processes. Corticosteroids can assist with inflammation and extended reactions but take time to work and are not suitable as an immediate treatment. Securing patient consent is generally important in medical treatment, yet in an anaphylactic emergency, the immediacy of the situation often