Which of the following constitutes the initial cardiovascular rapid assessment (C-ABCDE) in a patient with chest pain?

• A. Breathing, Airway, Circulation, Disability, Exposure
• B. Airway, Circulation, Breathing, Disability, Exposure
• C. Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure
• D. Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Exposure, Disability

Answer: (C)

The key idea is that in an acute chest-pain situation you perform a rapid primary survey in the ABCDE order: Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure. This sequence is chosen because you must first ensure the airway is patent and the patient is adequately ventilating before delving into circulation and other findings. If the airway is blocked or the patient isn’t breathing effectively, perfusion cannot be reliably assessed or stabilized, so fixing ventilation comes first. Once airway and breathing are secured, you quickly evaluate circulation to gauge perfusion and hemodynamic status (pulse quality, blood pressure, signs of shock) and intervene as needed, then check the neurologic status (Disability) and finally expose the patient to look for hidden injuries or signs (while keeping them warm). In chest-pain scenarios, this approach lets you rapidly identify critical problems such as hypoxemia, occult shock, or evolving myocardial ischemia and address them immediately while continuing the overall assessment.