Which device is used to deliver a shock to a patient in cardiac arrest?

• A. Oxygen mask
• B. Airway bag
• C. Defibrillator
• D. Nasogastric tube

Answer: (C)

Defibrillation is the intervention used to treat certain cardiac arrests. A defibrillator delivers a controlled electric shock through chest pads or paddles to briefly stop the heart’s chaotic electrical activity. This pause allows the heart’s normal rhythm to regain control, which is especially important for rhythms like ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia. The other devices listed are for breathing and airway management (like providing oxygen or assisting ventilation) or other procedures, not for delivering a shock. In many settings, an automated defibrillator can analyze the rhythm and tell you whether a shock is advised, while a manual defibrillator requires the clinician to decide. So, the device used to deliver a shock to a patient in cardiac arrest is a defibrillator.