A healthcare provider has been performing CPR on a patient for several minutes, and they confirm the rhythm is asystole. What is the most appropriate action according to ACLS guidelines?

Rationale: A. Asystole is a non-shockable rhythm, meaning defibrillation is not indicated. According to ACLS guidelines, the priority is to continue high-quality CPR and administer epinephrine 1 mg IV/IO every 3–5 minutes while identifying and treating reversible causes (H’s and T’s). Immediate interventions focus on supporting circulation and attempting to restore a perfusing rhythm. B. Stopping CPR is never recommended in asystole unless death is confirmed or resuscitation is deemed futile. Continuous high-quality CPR is critical to maintain perfusion to vital organs. C. Synchronized cardioversion is used for unstable tachyarrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation or supraventricular tachycardia with a pulse. It is not indicated for asystole, which is a pulseless rhythm. D. Defibrillation is reserved for shockable rhythms, such as ventricular fibrillation (VF) or pulseless ventricular tachycardia (pVT). Asystole does not respond to electrical shock, so attempting defibrillation delays other life-saving interventions.