Chapter 18

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 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:

Mallory-Weiss tear.

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.

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.

Peritonitis may result in shock because:

fluid shifts from the bloodstream into body tissues.

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

identify whether the patient requires rapid transport

Most patients with abdominal pain prefer to:

lie on their side with their knees drawn into the abdomen.

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.

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:

protect her airway from aspiration.

An important aspect in the treatment of a patient with severe abdominal pain is to:

provide emotional support en route to the hospital.