Module 29 Exam Flashcards
The respiratory distress that accompanies emphysema is caused by:
chronic stretching of the alveolar walls.
When auscultating the lungs of a patient with respiratory distress, you hear adventitious sounds. This means that the patient has:
abnormal breath sounds.
While auscultating an elderly woman’s breath sounds, you hear low-pitched “rattling” sounds at the bases of both of her lungs. This finding is MOST consistent with which of the following conditions?
Aspiration pneumonia
A 62-year-old man with a history of congestive heart failure presents with severe respiratory distress and with an oxygen saturation of 82%. When you auscultate his lungs, you hear widespread rales. He is conscious and alert, is able to follow simple commands, and can only speak in two- to three-word sentences at a time. You should:
apply a CPAP device, monitor his blood pressure, and observe him for signs of improvement or deterioration.
A 60-year-old male presents with acute respiratory distress. He is conscious and alert, has pink and dry skin, and has respirations of 22 breaths/min with adequate depth. Which of the following treatments is MOST appropriate for this patient?
Oxygen via nonrebreathing mask and a focused secondary assessment
A conscious and alert 29-year-old female with a history of asthma complains of difficulty breathing that began after her morning jog. The temperature outside is 40°F (5°C). On exam, you hear bilateral expiratory wheezing. After providing supplemental oxygen, you should:
determine if she has been prescribed a beta-agonist inhaler.
A 59-year-old male with a history of emphysema complains of an acute worsening of his dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain following a forceful cough. Your assessment reveals that he has a barrel-shaped chest, unilaterally diminished breath sounds, and tachycardia. What is the MOST likely cause of this patient’s condition?
Spontaneous pneumothorax
Asthma is caused by a response of the:
immune system
You are dispatched to a residence for a 67-year-old female who was awakened by shortness of breath and sharp chest pain. Her husband tells you that she was recently discharged from the hospital after having hip surgery. Your assessment reveals dried blood around her mouth, facial cyanosis, and an oxygen saturation of 88%. You should suspect:
acute pulmonary embolism
You are assisting an asthma patient with his prescribed metered-dose inhaler. After the patient exhales, and before inhaling, the patient should put his or her lips around the inhaler, take a deep breath, and depress the inhale. You should:
instruct him to hold his breath for as long as he comfortably can.
You receive a call for a 70-year-old female with respiratory distress. Her husband tells you that she has congestive heart failure; however, he does not think that she has been taking her medications as prescribed. The patient is laboring to breathe, appears tired, and has cyanosis around her lips. You should:
assist her ventilations with a bag-mask device
When assessing for fluid collection in the lungs during auscultation of lung sounds, you should:
start at the lower lung fields and determine at which level you start hearing clear breath sounds.
You are assessing a patient with respiratory distress and are unsure if the cause is congestive heart failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Which of the following clinical signs would be the MOST helpful in determining whether the patient has chronic heart failure or COPD?
Jugular vein distention
Harsh, high-pitched inspiratory sounds are characteristic of:
stridor
A 30-year-old male presents with acute shortness of breath, widespread hives, and facial swelling. He denies any past medical history and takes no medications. During your assessment, you hear wheezing over all lung fields. His blood pressure is 90/50 mm Hg, and his heart rate is 110 beats/min. In addition to giving him high-flow oxygen, the MOST important treatment for this patient is:
epinephrine
Which of the following statements regarding the hypoxic drive is correct?
The hypoxic drive stimulates a person to breathe on the basis of low oxygen levels.
Alkalosis is a condition that occurs when:
blood acidity is reduced by excessive breathing
Which of the following is MOST characteristic of adequate breathing?
24 breaths/min with bilaterally equal breath sounds and pink skin
In order for efficient pulmonary gas exchange to occur:
oxygen and carbon dioxide must be able to freely diffuse across the alveolar-capillary membrane
In what area of the lungs does respiration occur?
Alveoli
Treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) would MOST likely be contraindicated in which of the following situations?
Shortness of breath and a blood pressure of 76/56 mm Hg
Which of the following statements regarding pulse oximetry is correct?
Pulse oximetry measures the percentage of hemoglobin that is saturated with oxygen but does not measure the actual hemoglobin content of the blood
Which of the following statements regarding anaphylaxis is correct?
Anaphylaxis is characterized by airway swelling and hypotension.
Sudden death following AMI is MOST often caused by:
ventricular fibrillation
A patient in cardiac arrest is wearing an external defibrillator vest, which is interfering with effective chest compressions. The EMT should:
remove the battery from the monitor and then remove the vest
You and your partner have achieved return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) in a patient who was in cardiac arrest. An ALS unit will arrive in less than 2 minutes. The patient remains unresponsive and has slow, irregular breathing. Further treatment for this patient should include:
bag-mask ventilation at 10 breaths/min and assessment of oxygen saturation
Which of the following is the MOST reliable method of estimating a patient’s cardiac output?
Assess the heart rate and strength of the pulse
The AED has delivered a shock to an elderly male in cardiac arrest. Following 2 minutes of CPR, you re-analyze the patient’s cardiac rhythm and receive a “no shock advised” message. After further resuscitation, you restore a palpable carotid pulse. Your next action should be to:
reassess airway and breathing and treat accordingly
Which of the following medications is commonly given to patients with chest pain to prevent blood clots from forming or getting bigger?
Aspirin
Defibrillator pads are placed on the patient’s chest:
with one pad to the right of the upper sternum and the other pad to the left lower chest below the armpit
When an electrical impulse reaches the AV node, it is slowed for a brief period of time so that:
blood can pass from the atria to the ventricles
The posterior tibial pulse can be palpated:
behind the medial malleolus, on the inside of the ankle
A percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) restores blood flow to the ischemic myocardium by:
dilating the affected coronary artery with a small inflatable balloon
You are dispatched to a convenience store for a patient who passed out. Upon arriving at the scene, you find two off-duty EMTs performing CPR on the patient, a 58-year-old male. Your initial action should be to:
feel for a pulse while compressions are ongoing
Which of the following is NOT a function of the sympathetic nervous system?
Constriction of blood vessels in the muscles
Major risk factors for AMI include all of the following, EXCEPT:
hypoglycemia
Which of the following blood vessels transports oxygenated blood?
Pulmonary veins
Nitroglycerin is contraindicated in patients:
who have experienced a head injury
A 66-year-old female with a history of hypertension and diabetes presents with substernal chest pressure of 2 hours’ duration. Her blood pressure is 140/90 mm Hg, her pulse is 100 beats/min and irregular, her respirations are 22 breaths/min, and her oxygen saturation is 92%. The patient does not have prescribed nitroglycerin, but her husband does. You should:
administer oxygen, give her 324 mg of aspirin, and assess her further.
Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a term used to describe:
a group of symptoms that are caused by myocardial ischemia
You are assessing a 49-year-old man who complains of chest pressure that began the night before. He is conscious, but anxious, and tells you he has a history of angina and hypertension. You expose his chest to auscultate his lungs and note that he has a nitroglycerin patch on his right upper chest. His skin is cool and pale, his blood pressure is 78/50 mm Hg, and his pulse is 110 beats/min and irregular. You should:
remove the nitroglycerin patch, administer oxygen, and place him in a supine position.
When documenting a patient’s description of his or her chest pain or discomfort, the EMT should:
use the patients own words
You and your EMT partner are the first to arrive at the scene of an unresponsive 70-year-old man. Your assessment reveals that he is apneic and pulseless. A paramedic unit is en route to the scene and will arrive in approximately 5 minutes. You should:
begin CPR, apply the AED, and deliver a shock if it is indicated
A 66-year-old woman presents with a stabbing pain in the middle of her chest that radiates to her back. She tells you that the pain suddenly began about 30 minutes ago and has been severe since the onset. She has a history of hypertension, but admits to being noncompliant with her antihypertensive medications. When you assess her, you find that her blood pressure is significantly higher in her left arm than it is in her right arm. What do these signs and symptoms MOST likely indicate?
Dissecting aortic aneurysm
A 67-year-old female presents with difficulty breathing and chest discomfort that awakened her from her sleep. She states that she has congestive heart failure, has had two previous heart attacks, and has been prescribed nitroglycerin. She is conscious and alert with adequate breathing. Her blood pressure is 94/64 mm Hg and her heart rate is 120 beats/min. Treatment for this patient includes:
placing her in an upright position
You are dispatched to a residence for a 56-year-old male with an altered mental status. Upon arrival at the scene, the patient’s wife tells you that he complained of chest pain the day before, but would not allow her to call EMS. The patient is semiconscious; has rapid, shallow respirations; and has a thready pulse. You should:
begin ventilatory assistance
After the AED has delivered a shock, the EMT should:
immediately resume CPR
The inferior vena cava returns deoxygenated blood to the right side of the heart from all of the following areas, EXCEPT the:
brain
Which of the following is a major difference between angina pectoris and AMI?
Anginal pain typically subsides with rest
You and your partner arrive at the scene of a middle-aged man who collapsed about 5 minutes ago. He is unresponsive, apneic, and pulseless. Bystanders are present, but have not provided any care. You should:
begin high-quality CPR and apply the AED as soon as possible
Which of the following findings should concern the EMT the MOST when assessing a patient who complains of a headache?
Neck stiffness or pain
The MOST significant risk factor for a hemorrhagic stroke is:
hypertension
Febrile seizures:
are usually benign but should be evaluated
When you are obtaining medical history from the family of a suspected stroke patient, it is MOST important to determine:
when the patient last appeared normal
When caring for a patient with documented hypoglycemia, you should be MOST alert for:
a seizure
The principal clinical difference between a stroke and hypoglycemia is that patients with hypoglycemia:
usually have an altered mental status or decreased level of consciousness
The frontal lobe of the brain controls:
emotion
You arrive at a local grocery store approximately 5 minutes after a 21-year-old female stopped seizing. She is confused and disoriented; she keeps asking you what happened and tells you that she is thirsty. Her brother, who witnessed the seizure, tells you that she takes valproate (Depakote) for her seizures, but has not taken it in a few days. He also tells you that she has diabetes. In addition to administering oxygen, you should:
monitor her airway and breathing status and assess her blood glucose level
You arrive at a grocery store shortly after a 35-year-old male stopped seizing. Your assessment reveals that he is confused and incontinent of urine. The patient’s girlfriend tells you that he has a history of seizures and takes topiramate (Topamax). When obtaining further medical history from the girlfriend, it is MOST important to:
obtain a description of how the seizure developed
A generalized (tonic-clonic) seizure is characterized by:
10
When transporting a stable stroke patient with a paralyzed extremity, place the patient in a:
recumbent position with the paralyzed side down.
Which of the following is characteristic of a focal-onset aware seizure?
normal level of consciousness
During the primary assessment of a semiconscious 70-year-old female, you should:
ensure a patent airway and support ventilation as needed
You are caring for a 70-year-old female with signs and symptoms of an acute stroke. She is conscious, has secretions in her mouth, is breathing at a normal rate with adequate depth, and has an oxygen saturation of 96%. You should:
suction her oropharynx and transport immediately
Which of the following patients would MOST likely demonstrate typical signs of infection, such as a fever?
17y/o male with anxiety
Which of the following symptoms would lead the EMT to believe that a patient’s headache is caused by sinus congestion?
The pain is worse when bending ove
You are assessing the arm drift component of the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale on a 60-year-old woman. When she holds both of her arms out in front of her and closes her eyes, both of her arms immediately fall to her sides. You should:
repeat the arm drift test, but move the patient’s arms into position yourself
The three major parts of the brain are the:
cerebrum, cerebellum, and brain stem
A patient whose speech is slurred and difficult to understand is experiencing:
dysarthia
A 58-year-old male presents with confusion, right-sided weakness, and slurred speech. His airway is patent, and his breathing is adequate. His wife is present and is very upset. Which of the following has the MOST immediately priority?
asking his wife when she noticed the symptoms
Individuals with chronic alcoholism are predisposed to intracranial bleeding and hypoglycemia secondary to abnormalities in the:
hypertension
Which of the following MOST accurately describes a focal-onset aware seizure?
a seizure that begins in one extremity
Which of the following MOST accurately describes what the patient will experience during the postictal state that follows a seizure?
confusion and fatigue
Status epilepticus is characterized by:
prolonged seizures without a return of consciousness
Which of the following is a metabolic cause of a seizure?
poisoning
Muscle control and body coordination are controlled by the:
cerebellum
Which of the following clinical signs is MOST suggestive of a ruptured aneurysm?
sudden, severe headache
You are dispatched to a residence for a 66-year-old male who, according to family members, has suffered a massive stroke. Your primary assessment reveals that the patient is unresponsive, apneic, and pulseless. You should:
initiate CPR and attach an AED as soon as possible
An area of swelling or enlargement in a weakened arterial wall is called:
aneurysm
A patient who is experiencing aphasia is:
unable to produce or understand speech
A transient ischemic attack (TIA) occurs when:
a small clot in a cerebral artery causes temporary symptoms
A 30-year-old male experienced a generalized (tonic-clonic) seizure, which stopped before you arrived at the scene. The patient is conscious, is answering your questions appropriately, and refuses EMS transport. Which of the following would be the MOST compelling reason to disagree with his refusal of transport?
he is currently prescriped any medications
Which of the following medications would indicate that a patient has a history of seizures?
Levetiracetam (Keppra)
You arrive at the residence of a 33-year-old woman who is experiencing a generalized (tonic-clonic) seizure. She has a small amount of vomitus draining from the side of her mouth. After protecting her from further injury, you should:
maintain her airway with manual head positioning, suction her airway to remove the vomitus, insert a nasopharyngeal airway, and administer high-flow oxygen.
When assessing for arm drift of a patient with a suspected stroke, you should:
ask the patient to close his or her eyes during the assessment.
Which of the following MOST accurately describes the cause of an ischemic stroke?
blockage of a cerebral artery
You are assessing a 49-year-old man who, according to his wife, experienced a sudden, severe headache and then passed out. He is unresponsive and has slow, irregular breathing. His blood pressure is 190/94 mm Hg, and his pulse rate is 50 beats/min. His wife tells you that he has hypertension and diabetes. He has MOST likely experienced:
a ruptured cerebral artery
Which of the following conditions is NOT a common cause of seizures?
hypotension
Which of the following conditions would be the LEAST likely to mimic the signs and symptoms of a stroke?
hypovolemia
Which of the following conditions is more common in women than in men?
Cystitis
The kidneys help to regulate blood pressure by:
removing sodium and water from the body.
Chronic renal failure is a condition that:
is often caused by hypertension or diabetes
Esophageal varices MOST commonly occur in patients who:
consume a lot of alcohol
Most patients with abdominal pain prefer to:
lie on their side with their knees drawn into the abdomen
The MOST important treatment for a patient with severe abdominal pain and signs of shock is:
transporting the patient without delay
The MOST common and significant complication associated with an acute abdomen is:
peritonitis
Which of the following is characteristic of peptic ulcer disease (PUD)?
Burning or gnawing stomach pain that subsides immediately after eating
In contrast to the parietal peritoneum, the visceral peritoneum:
is supplied by nerves of the autonomic nervous system, which are less able to localize pain or sensation
Pain that is localized to the lower back and/or lower abdominal quadrants is MOST suggestive of:
an aortic aneurysm.
Peritonitis may result in shock because:
fluid shifts from the bloodstream into body tissues.
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?
kidney
A 60-year-old female presents with a tearing sensation in her lower back. Her skin is sweaty, and she is tachycardic. The EMT should suspect:
aortic aneurysm
A 35-year-old obese woman is complaining of localized pain in the right upper quadrant with referred pain to the right shoulder. The MOST likely cause of her pain is:
acute cholecystitis.
Which of the following organs would MOST likely bleed profusely if injured?
Liver
Which of the following organs assists in the filtration of blood, serves as a blood reservoir, and produces antibodies?
Spleen
You respond to the residence of a 70-year-old male who complains of weakness and severe shortness of breath. His wife tells you that he is a dialysis patient, but has missed his last two treatments. After applying oxygen, you auscultate his lungs and hear diffuse rhonchi. The patient is conscious, but appears confused. His blood pressure is 98/54 mm Hg, his pulse rate is 120 beats/min and irregular, and his respirations are 24 breaths/min and labored. You should:
leave him in a sitting position, keep him warm, and prepare for immediate transport
Which of the following statements regarding gastrointestinal bleeding is correct?
Bleeding within the gastrointestinal tract is a symptom of another disease, not a disease itself
Pain that radiates to the right lower quadrant from the umbilical area, nausea and vomiting, and lack of appetite are MOST indicative of:
appendicitis
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:
be alert for signs and symptoms of shock
You are transporting a 49-year-old male with “tearing” abdominal pain. You are approximately 30 miles away from the closest hospital. During your reassessment, you determine that the patient’s condition has deteriorated significantly. You should:
consider requesting a rendezvous with an ALS unit
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:
administer oxygen and prepare for immediate transport
Which of the following statements regarding dialysis is correct?
Patients who miss a dialysis treatment often present with weakness
Pain that may be perceived at a distant point on the surface of the body, such as the back or shoulder, is called:
referred pain
When assessing a patient with abdominal pain, you should:
palpate the abdomen in a clockwise direction, beginning with the quadrant after the one the patient indicates is painful.
You are dispatched to an apartment complex for a young male with abdominal pain. Your priority upon arriving at the scene should be to:
assess the scene for potential hazards
You are treating a patient who is exhibiting slurred speech, facial droop, and an inability to move his left arm. Which neurologic examination tool emphasizes these possible stroke signs?
Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale
What happens when blood flow to a particular part of the brain is cut off by a blockage, resulting in tissue damage?
Ischemic stroke
What is the name of the condition in which the patient forgets about the injured side after a stroke?
Neglect
Which criterion must be met for a patient to be considered as having status epilepticus?
a seizure lasting more than 30 minutes
or that recur every few minutes
Which of the following is a metabolic cause for a seizure?
Hypoglycemia
Which of the following mimics a stroke and also causes seizure?
hypoglycemia
What is the difference between a stroke and a transient ischemic attack?
TIA resolves completely within 24 hours of onset
You are dispatched to a home where you find a 70-year-old man. He is exhibiting facial drooping and, when you ask him to tell you what day it is, he says, “January.” Which part of the brain is most likely to have been affected?
left hemisphere
Aphasia is the inability to produce or understand speech.
This occurs when the left hemisphere of the cerebrum is impacted by a stroke.
You are examining a patient whose signs include lip smacking, jerking of the left arm, and agitation. Based on these signs, which type of seizure is this patient experiencing?
complex partial
You are performing a Glasgow Coma Scale on a patient who opens her eyes in response to pain, is confused in her responses to questions, and has abnormal flexion. What is this patient’s GCS score and corresponding state of dysfunction?
9: moderate dysfunction
response to pain = 2; confused conversation = 4; abnormal flexion = 3.
You are assessing a patient who reports pain in the lower left quadrant of his abdomen. Rearrange the quadrants into the correct sequence in which they should be palpated.
Lower right
Upper right
Upper left
Lower left
In cholecystitis, where is the patient likely to feel referred pain?
right shoulder
You are assessing a patient who reports severe pain in his upper left and right abdominal quadrants radiating to the back. The patient says that the pain got worse right after he ate lunch an hour ago. He also has nausea and vomiting, abdominal distention, and tenderness. Based on these signs and symptoms, which of the following conditions do you suspect?
pancreatitis
Rebound tenderness is a result of:
peritoneal irritation
Which of the following statements is true about acute renal failure?
can be reversed with prompt diagnosis and treatment
What is the medical term for blood in the vomit?
hematemesis
What is it called when a patient tenses his abdominal muscles during your assessment?
guarding
involuntary muscle contractions (spasm) of the abdominal wall
represent an effort to protect the inflamed abdomen
Which of the following does NOT produce upper intestinal bleeding?
Ulcerative colitis
inflammatory bowel disease that causes
inflammation and ulcers in the colon.
You are assessing a 76-year-old man who reports severe tearing pain radiating into his lower back. He is hypotensive and tachycardic. Which of the following should you suspect?
AAA
When assessing a patient’s abdomen, what is the best position to place the patient in?
Supine
Which of the following is a sign of peptic ulcer disease?
Melena
Diabetes is a metabolic disorder in which the body’s ability to metabolize _____ is impaired.
Diabetes is a metabolic disorder in which the body’s ability to metabolize glucose is impaired.
What is the function of insulin in the body?
Insulin enables glucose in the blood to enter cells
Which substance is released when the concentration of glucose drops in the blood?
Glucagon stimulates liver and skeletal muscles to release glycogen, and it converts glycogen back to glucose for use as cellular fuel.
Which of the following is the most common metabolic disease of childhood?
Type 1 diabetes is the most common metabolic disease of childhood.
Which of the following organs can rapidly sustain permanent damage when the body’s glucose level is too low?
Untreated hypoglycemia (low glucose) can result in loss of consciousness and quickly cause significant brain damage or death.
What is a normal glucose level in an adult?
A normal glucose level is 80 mg/dL.
You are treating a 36-year-old patient who displays the following signs and symptoms: rapid, shallow respirations; pale, cool, clammy skin; tachycardia; weakness on the left side of the body; and confusion and irritability. What should you suspect?
These signs and symptoms indicate the patient has symptomatic hypoglycemia
The condition in which blood clots as a result of an abnormality of the system of coagulation is called:
Thrombophilia is a tendency toward developing blood clots as a result of an abnormality of coagulation