Module 11: respiratory emergencies

Question 1

Inhaled air contains __% oxygen and exhaled oxygen air ____% oxygen

Answer 1

21, 16

Question 2

How much oxygen does the body use?

Answer 2

5%

Question 3

What would happen in the right side of the heart failed and can no longer effectively pump blood?

Answer 3

Fluid buildup, also known as edema

Question 4

What would happen in the left side of the heart failed and can no longer effectively pump blood?

Answer 4

Fluid would begin to accumulate in the alveoli, also known as acute pulmonary edema, or APE

Question 5

What disease is APE usually the result of? What sort of lung sounds can be heard?

Answer 5

congestive heart failure
Crackles (RALES)

Question 6

Name the two disease components of COPD and the impact of this disease

Answer 6

Chronic bronchitis and emphysema
Impact is dilation/disruption of bronchioles and alveoli

Question 7

What is emphysema?

Answer 7

loss of elasticity around air spaces
causes include inflamed airways, smoking
type of COPD

Question 8

When a patient experiences a worsening of their chronic condition, it is called

Answer 8

exacerbation

Question 9

What is asthma?

Answer 9

acute spasm of smaller air passages (bronchioconstriction and vasodilation)

Question 10

Albuterol may be used any time the pt is experiencing ___ causing ___

Answer 10

dyspnea, bronchoconstriction

Question 11

Can epinephrine be used during a critical asthma attack?

Answer 11

Yes, if OLMC is contacted

Question 12

What is a hemothorax?

Answer 12

when blood enters the pleural space

Question 13

What is a pleural effusion?

Answer 13

When other fluids enter pleural space (NOT blood)

Question 14

What is the most common cause of a pulmonary embolism?

Answer 14

blood clot in the legs

Question 15

What are the symptoms of pulmonary embolism?

Answer 15

SOB, increased work breathing, and signs of hypoxia like low SpO2 levels despite administering oxygen

Question 16

Name the symptoms of CO poisoning?

Answer 16

headaches and nausea, LOC, seizures, and coma

Question 17

Are pulse oximeters helpful when determing CO poisoning?

Answer 17

No, they cannot differentiate between O2 and CO

Question 18

What is respiratory splinting?

Answer 18

Pain to pt, with SOB after a broken rib

Question 19

When three or more ribs are broken, it is called__ and results in

Answer 19

a flail segment, a paradoxical movement of chest wall

Question 20

Name what should be looked for during the physical exam for patients experiencing respiratory distress

Answer 20

conjunctiva, cyanosis, jugular vein distention, tracheal deviation, ascites, pedal edema, and clubbing

Question 21

What patients benefit from humidifed oxygen?

Answer 21

burn pts, and pediatric pts

Question 22

What position might children assume when experiencing respiratory distress?

Answer 22

sniffing position

Question 23

What sounds does croup produce? What sort of swelling does it create?

Answer 23

stridor (NOT wheezing) pharyngeal

Question 24

How might croup be treated?

Answer 24

Humidified oxygen

Question 25

What is epiglottitis? Name a unique symtpom

Answer 25

bacterial infection causing swelling of flap over larynx. Drooling

Question 26

What is bronchiolitis? Is there bronchioconstriction?

Answer 26

caused by RSV, most common in children. The bronchioles are swollen, but bronchiodilators like albuterol are still helpful.

Question 27

How should an EMT suspect pneumonia?

Answer 27

fever, cough, difficulty breathing. Variety of lung sounds.

Question 28

What is pertussis? What are the symptoms and treatment?

Answer 28

whooping cough, bacterial infection
prolongued coughing fit
watch for dehydration and suction

Question 29

What is cystic fibrosis? How is it treated?

Answer 29

Thick mucous secretions
Treat w suction and oxygenate (possibly humidify)

Question 30

Dyspnea is MOST accurately defined as:
complete cessation of respiratory effort
difficulty breathing
labored breathing with reduced tidal volume
a marked increase in exhalation phase

Answer 30

difficulty breathing

Question 31

In a healthy individual, the brain stem stimulates breathing on the basis of:
decreased O2
Decreased CO2
Increased O2
Increased CO2

Answer 31

Increased CO2

Question 32

A 24-year-old male patient is having a severe asthma attack. You are administering nebulizer albuterol however, he is worsening. You should:
- call OLMC to administer epinephrine
-call OLMC to administer addition albuterol
-call ALS and wait

Answer 32

• call OLMC to administer epinephrine

Question 33

Which of the following abnormal breath sounds indicate swelling of the upper airway?
rhonchi
crackles
rales
stridor

Answer 33

stridor

Question 34

A 19-year-old male patient states he “can’t catch his breath”. His vital signs are as follows: BP: 128/78; P: 98; RR: 24; SPo2 97%. You should:

Answer 34

administer oxygen via NRB

Question 35

Acute pulmonary edema would MOST likely develop as the result of:
right sided heart failure
sever hyperventilation
an upper airway infection
left sided heart failure

Answer 35

left sided heart failure

Question 36

The respiratory distress that accompanies emphysema is caused by:
-massive constriciton of bronchioles
-repeated exposure to cigarette smoke
-acute fluid accumulation in alveoli
-chronic stretching of alveolar walls

Answer 36

-chronic stretching of alveolar walls