Gastrointestinal and Urologic Emergencies

Question 1

A 29-year-old pregnant woman has had severe vomiting for the last 2 days. Today, she is vomiting large amounts of blood. Her skin is cool and pale and she is tachycardic. The EMT should suspect:

Answer 1

Mallory-Weiss tear

Question 2

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:

Answer 2

Protect her airway from aspiration

Question 3

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:

Answer 3

Be alert for signs and symptoms of shock

Question 4

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? ‘

Answer 4

Kidney

Question 5

For a patient with a gastrointestinal complaint, it is MOST important for the EMT to _____

Answer 5

Identify whether the patient requires rapid transport

Question 6

Most patients with abdominal pain prefer to:

Answer 6

Lie on their side with their knees drawn into the abdomen

Question 7

Pain that may be perceived at a distant point on the surface of the body, such as the back or shoulder, is called:

Answer 7

Referred pain

Question 8

Peritonitis may result in shock because:

Answer 8

Fluid shifts from the bloodstream into body tissues

Question 9

A 59-year-old male presents with sudden-onset severe lower back pain. He is conscious and alert, but very restless and diaphoretic. Your assessment reveals a pulsating mass to the left of his umbilicus. You should:

Answer 9

Administer oxygen and prepare for immediate transport

Question 10

Urinary tract infections are most common in ____

Answer 10

Women

Question 11

When assessing a patient with abdominal pain, you should:

Answer 11

Palpate the abdomen in a clockwise direction, beginning with the quadrant after the one the patient indicates is painful

Question 12

Which of the following helps filter the blood and has no digestive function?

Answer 12

Spleen

Question 13

Which of the following is correct about the secondary assessment for a high-priority patient?

Answer 13

You may not have time to complete a secondary assessment

Question 14

Which of the following may help reduce your patient’s nausea?

Answer 14

Low-flow oxygen

Question 15

Which of the following organs lies in the retroperitoneal space?

Answer 15

Pancreas

Question 16

Which of the following statements regarding the acute abdomen is correct?

Answer 16

The initial pain associated with an acute abdomen tends to be vague

Question 17

You are treating a 40-year-old male with a documented blood sugar reading of 480mh/dL. The patient is semiconscious and breathing shallowly, and is receiving assisted ventilation from your partner. You should recognize that definitive treatment for this patient includes:

Answer 17

Insulin

Question 18

Your patient complains of abdominal pain that occurs mostly at night or after eating fatty foods. You should suspect _____

Answer 18

Cholecystitis

Question 19

Your patient complains of chronic “burning” stomach pain that improves after eating. You should suspect:

Answer 19

Peptic ulcer disease