What criteria must be met to declare a patient in cardiac arrest?

The criteria for declaring a patient in cardiac arrest revolves around critical indicators of cardiac function and consciousness. The correct answer involves the absence of a pulse, which signifies that the heart is not effectively circulating blood, coupled with immobility in responsiveness and absence of normal breathing.

When a patient is unresponsive and has no detectable pulse, this indicates that the heart is not supplying blood to the brain and other vital organs, leading to a state where the patient cannot sustain life without immediate intervention. Furthermore, normal breathing typically ceases in cardiac arrest situations due to the lack of oxygenated blood, reinforcing the need for immediate CPR and advanced medical care.

Other criteria presented do not adequately characterize cardiac arrest. For example, the presence of strong pulse combined with unresponsiveness is contradictory, as a strong pulse indicates some level of cardiac function. Similarly, a respiratory rate of fewer than 10 breaths per minute does not specifically imply cardiac arrest; it could relate to other respiratory issues. Lastly, visible signs of trauma and altered mental status may reflect a different medical situation entirely and do not definitively relate to cardiac arrest. Thus, the combination of absent pulse, unresponsiveness, and lack of normal breathing offers a clear and accurate assessment of cardiac arrest.