ACLS ProMed Practice Test

Adenosine is given as a rapid IV bolus to briefly block the AV node, which can terminate many reentrant SVTs by interrupting the AV nodal pathway. Its effect is very short because of an ultra-short half-life, so dosing is done in rapid, escalating boluses: a first 6 mg dose, then a possible repeat with 12 mg if there’s no conversion, and sometimes another 12 mg if the protocol allows.

In this scenario, only one repeat is allowed after the initial 6 mg. That means the highest total amount you could give is 6 mg plus 12 mg, which equals 18 mg. (Some protocols elsewhere permit another 12 mg dose for a total of 30 mg, but that is not allowed in this question’s constraints.)