What action should be prioritized for a dialysis patient in cardiac arrest?

For a dialysis patient in cardiac arrest, administering sodium bicarbonate is prioritized because it addresses the potential metabolic acidosis that may have developed due to the patient's renal failure. Dialysis patients often have an accumulation of acids in their blood, leading to a condition called metabolic acidosis. Sodium bicarbonate helps to buffer this acidity, which can improve the chances of effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and may enhance the heart's response to defibrillation.

In the context of cardiac arrest, the urgency lies in stabilizing the patient's metabolic state. Sodium bicarbonate can also help prevent further complications during resuscitation and might improve the overall chances of survival.

Other interventions, while important under different circumstances, do not address the immediate needs of a dialysis patient experiencing cardiac arrest with the same direct impact. Immediate transport to a renal specialist, managing the airway, or performing invasive procedures like tube thoracostomy are valuable in various scenarios but do not specifically tackle the critical issue of acidosis that is prevalent in dialysis patients during cardiac arrest. Thus, the use of sodium bicarbonate becomes a key intervention in this situation.