Chapter 18 Quiz Flashcards
Your patient complains of chronic “burning” stomach pain that improves after eating. You should suspect:
A. kidney stones.
B. aortic aneurysm.
C. pneumonia.
D. peptic ulcer disease.
D. peptic ulcer disease.
A young female presents with costovertebral angle tenderness. She is conscious and alert with stable vital signs. Which of the following organs is MOST likely causing her pain?
A. Gallbladder
B. Liver
C. Pancreas
D. Kidney
D. Kidney
When assessing a patient with abdominal pain, you should:
A. observe for abdominal guarding, which is characterized by sudden relaxation of the abdominal muscles when palpated.
B. visually assess the painful area of the abdomen, but avoid palpation because this could worsen his or her condition.
C. palpate the abdomen in a clockwise direction, beginning with the quadrant after the one the patient indicates is painful.
D. ask the patient to point to the area of pain or tenderness and assess for rebound tenderness over that specific area.
C. palpate the abdomen in a clockwise direction, beginning with the quadrant after the one the patient indicates is painful.
A 30-year-old woman with a history of alcoholism presents with severe upper abdominal pain and is vomiting large amounts of bright red blood. Her skin is cool, pale, and clammy; her heart rate is 120 beats/min and weak; and her blood pressure is 70/50 mm Hg. Your MOST immediate action should be to:
A. give her high-flow supplemental oxygen.
B. protect her airway from aspiration.
C. keep her supine and keep her warm.
D. rapidly transport her to the hospital.
B. protect her airway from aspiration.
Peritonitis may result in shock because:
A. abdominal distention impairs cardiac contractions.
B. severe pain causes systemic dilation of the vasculature.
C. intra-abdominal hemorrhage is typically present.
D. fluid shifts from the bloodstream into body tissues.
D. fluid shifts from the bloodstream into body tissues.
Which of the following is correct about the secondary assessment for a high-priority patient?
A. Never contact medical direction before completing the secondary assessment.
B. The secondary assessment must be performed prior to transport.
C. Never perform a secondary assessment on a high-priority patient.
D. You may not have time to complete a secondary assessment.
D. You may not have time to complete a secondary assessment.
A 47-year-old male presents with severe abdominal pain of 3 hours’ duration. His abdomen is distended and guarded. Your MOST important consideration for this patient should be to:
A. assess his blood pressure to determine perfusion adequacy.
B. transport him in a supine position.
C. be alert for signs and symptoms of shock.
D. determine the exact location and cause of his pain.
C. be alert for signs and symptoms of shock.
Which of the following statements regarding the acute abdomen is correct?
A. The parietal peritoneum is typically the first abdominal layer that becomes inflamed or irritated.
B. The initial pain associated with an acute abdomen tends to be vague and poorly localized.
C. The most common cause of an acute abdomen is inflammation of the gallbladder and liver.
D. An acute abdomen almost always occurs as the result of blunt trauma to solid abdominal organs.
B. The initial pain associated with an acute abdomen tends to be vague and poorly localized.
Most patients with abdominal pain prefer to:
A. sit fully upright because it helps relax the abdominal muscles.
B. sit in a semi-Fowler position with their knees slightly bent.
C. lie on their side with their knees drawn into the abdomen.
D. lie in a supine position with their knees in a flexed position.
C. lie on their side with their knees drawn into the abdomen.
Which of the following organs lies in the retroperitoneal space?
A. Liver
B. Spleen
C. Pancreas
D. Gallbladder
C. Pancreas
