Which patient is most likely to benefit from the use of an AED?

The patient most likely to benefit from the use of an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) is the 54-year-old choking patient who is unresponsive with no carotid pulse. The primary purpose of an AED is to treat patients who are in cardiac arrest due to specific heart rhythms, typically ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia.

When a person is unresponsive and has no detectable pulse, it indicates that the heart is not effectively circulating blood, which is often a result of a cardiac arrest. In such situations, rapid defibrillation can restore a normal heart rhythm, increasing the chances of survival. While choking can complicate the clinical picture, an unresponsive state with no pulse also indicates a critical emergency requiring immediate intervention.

In contrast, the other scenarios presented involve patients who are either responsive or who do not fit the criteria for immediate AED use. The 72-year-old with a history of hypertension might have a higher risk for cardiac events, but without signs of cardiac arrest, an AED is not indicated. The 30-year-old with chest discomfort may be experiencing an acute coronary syndrome but is not necessarily in cardiac arrest at that moment, making AED use inappropriate. Finally, the 45-year-old male who