Modern Dental Assisting, 12th Edition, Chapter 31 Assisting in a Medical Emergency Recall Questions
What is the proper ratio of chest compressions to breaths for an adult victim when CPR is performed?
30 chest compressions to 2 ventilations.
Where should emergency phone numbers be kept in a dental office?
A list of emergency numbers should be posted next to each telephone throughout the office. Maintaining a current list of these telephone numbers is an important part of emergency preparedness. The list should include telephone numbers for emergency medical services (EMS) personnel, local police, and firefighters. In areas of the United States and Canada, all three agencies can be reached by dialing 9-1-1
What is the medical term for chest pain caused by the heart muscle being deprived of oxygen?
Angina
What does the abbreviation CAB stand for in emergency care?
CPR instructions (Chest compressions, Airway, Breathing) for adults and pediatric patients (children and infants). By changing the sequence to C-A-B, chest compressions are initiated sooner and ventilation is minimally delayed until completion of the first cycle of chest compressions.
Who in the dental office would most likely be in charge of calling the emergency medical services?
Front desk staff (business assistant) will call emergency services and remain on the telephone until appropriate medical assistance arrives
What condition results from an abnormal increase in blood glucose?
Hyperglycemia results from an abnormal increase in the glucose (sugar) level in the blood. If untreated, hyperglycemia may progress to diabetic ketoacidosis and a life-threatening diabetic coma.
What minimum credentials must you have to meet emergency care standards as a dental assistant?
It is imperative that each member of the dental team have the following credentials and skills: • Ability to assess and record vital signs accurately • Basic life support for the health care provider (cardiopulmonary resuscitation [CPR]) • Heimlich maneuver (also known as abdominal thrusts) • Operation of the automated external defibrillator
What is a probable cause of most medical emergencies in the dental office?
Most emergencies that occur in the dental office are initiated by the combined stress of a person's daily life and the apprehension of going to the dentist. If a patient has had a negative experience or is nervous about a specific procedure, the patient's stress level could be altered, which may lead to a medical crisis. It is important to recognize the areas of dental treatment that are most stressful for a patient.
What is the danger of ventricular fibrillation?
Most sudden cardiac arrest victims are experiencing what is called ventricular fibrillation (VF). VF is an abnormal, chaotic heart rhythm that prevents the heart from pumping blood. VF causes more cardiac arrests than are caused by any other rhythm (about 80-90 percent of cases).
What is the best way to prevent an emergency?
One of the most important ways to prevent a medical emergency is to know your patient. This means establishing open communication about the patient's health and having a completed and updated medical history before dental treatment begins.
What is the most frequently used "drug" in a medical emergency?
Oxygen is the most frequently used "drug" in a medical emergency. The ideal agent for resuscitation of a patient who is unconscious but is still breathing is 100 percent oxygen. If the patient is not breathing, air must be forced into the lungs through rescue breathing or similar emergency measures.Remember, the oxygen cylinder is always color coded green
Patients with asthma will usually carry what form of medication?
Patients with asthma generally carry an inhaler that contains medication (bronchodilator) to relieve the first symptoms of an attack. It is essential that asthma be identified on the patient's medical history, and that the patient brings his or her inhaler to each dental appointment
What is the medical term for fainting?
Syncope is caused by an imbalance in the distribution of blood to the brain and to the larger vessels within the body. This reduced blood flow to the brain causes the patient to lose consciousness. Psychological factors that can contribute to syncope include stress, apprehension, fear, and the sight of blood or the sight of a certain instrument. Physiologic factors can include remaining in one position for a long time, being in a confined environment, skipping a meal or being hungry, and experiencing fatigue or exhaustion. The patient may complain of symptoms, and the signs may be noticed for several minutes before the patient actually loses consciousness.
What type of allergic reaction can be life threatening?
The symptoms of anaphylaxis can be life threatening and may develop very quickly. Without appropriate care, the patient could die within a few minutes
A patient who is unresponsive to sensory stimulation is in what state?
Unconsciousness
When patients tell you how they feel, what is the term for such a "feeling"?
When a medical emergency occurs, it is important to be attentive and take note in the patient's response of a symptom and your observation of the signs. A symptom is what the patient is telling you about how they feel or what they are experiencing, such as, "I feel dizzy," "I'm having trouble breathing," or "My arm hurts."
Who is responsible for a patient's safety in the dental office?
While the patient is in the dental office, the dentist is responsible for the individual's safety. If a medical emergency involving the patient arises, the dentist and staff members are responsible for providing emergency care until more qualified personnel arrive. Emergency first aid protocols must be established and routinely practiced in the dental office.
What does the abbreviation AED stand for?
automated external defibrillator (AED). The AED is attached to the patient, the power is turned on, and the device analyzes and defibrillates the patient without further input from the operator.
What is the medical term for stroke?
cerebrovascular accident
