Chapter 16 pre test, post test and Chapter test
During an asthma attack, three main pathological changes lead to hypoxia in the patient. Which of these changes is not one of these three?
Decreased alveolar perfusion
After administration of a bronchodilator, what would the EMT expect to hear during auscultation if the medication had its desired effect on the body?
Diminishment in wheezing
Which of the following is a sign of cardiogenic pulmonary edema?
Distended neck veins
You are treating a patient who has difficulty breathing. He is very thin and has a barrel-chest appearance. He is coughing but with little sputum and has a prolonged exhalation as if he is puffing. What type of disease does he MOST likely have?
Emphysema
As compared to an adult, how would you describe the respiratory rate of an infant?
Faster than an adult's rate
Which assessment finding in a patient who is dyspneic is a clear indication of hypoxia?
Cyanosis
When a patient has dyspnea, the EMT's primary focus is to manage the condition before the development of:
respiratory failure.
Early signs of breathing difficulty in the infant or child include:
retractions during inspiration.
A condition in which a lung collapses without any chest trauma is called:
spontaneous pneumothorax.
When treating a COPD patient who had a sudden onset of sharp chest pain and difficulty breathing while doing physical exercise, the EMT should be concerned about the possibility of a pulmonary embolus or:
spontaneous pneumothorax.
There are many problems that can cause chest pain. A symptom that usually signals pneumonia rather than another cause of chest pain is:
the presence of a fever.
A 25-year-old woman appears to be suffering from hyperventilation syndrome. You should
try to calm the patient.
The patient who has pneumonia usually has all of the following, EXCEPT
vomiting blood.
Which of the following is an easily recognizable prescribed medication for a patient for a respiratory disease?
Levalbuterol
Which area of the brain is responsible for the gross rate and rhythm of the breathing pattern?
Medulla oblongata
While you are obtaining a medical history for a patient with generalized weakness and fatigue, she hands you a list of all the medications she is currently taking. Which of these medications should the EMT recognize as a bronchodilator for which the EMT could assist in its administration?
Metaproterenol
Which of these pieces of information would heighten the EMT's suspicion that a child with a persistent cough may have whooping cough?
Never had childhood immunizations
The EMT will encounter many patients with respiratory distress. Which of the following will be the most common cause?
Obstructive lung disease
What is the pathophysiology of cystic fibrosis?
Overabundant production of mucus in the lower airways
The EMT is correctly assessing a patient for subcutaneous emphysema when he
Palpates the anterior and posterior chest
Which of the following conditions stimulates receptors in the lungs?
Pneumonia
Your 68-year-old male patient complains of shortness of breath that has been getting worse over the past few days. He denies any history of COPD and has not experienced any penetrating trauma. He does have a low-grade fever. He says that he feels weak and has some chest pain. What is MOST likely to be his problem?
Pneumonia
A patient who is nonverbal from a previous stroke is in severe respiratory distress. A family member states that she has multiple medical problems, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart failure. When assessing this patient, which sign or symptom would raise your suspicion that the patient has heart failure?
Pulmonary crackles
Your patient woke up in the middle of the night with extreme shortness of breath. He says that he has a "cardiac history" and always sleeps with three pillows. He denies any chest pain. What is his MOST likely condition?
Pulmonary edema
A patient who just completed an international flight complains of a sudden onset of shortness of breath. The patient has no previous medical history. Which of the following is the likely cause of the distress?
Pulmonary embolism
When auscultating breath sounds, the EMT should recognize rhonchi when he hears which type of sound?
Rattling-like noises that change when the patient coughs
What is the most common cause of cardiac arrest in infants and children?
Respiratory compromise
Which of the following medications is the EMT NOT allowed to use for the acute management of a patient with bronchoconstriction, wheezing, and a history of asthma?
Salmeterol xinafoate
You are reassessing a patient to whom you have administered oxygen and an MDI for respiratory distress. During your reassessment, you find that there is only slight expiratory wheezing, the pulse oximeter reading is 97 percent, the patient is speaking in full sentences, and the patient's color is good. Given this, which of the following characterizes the patient?
She is displaying mild respiratory distress
While you are listening to breath sounds, the patient should be in what anatomic position whenever possible?
Sitting upright
You are standing by at a local 5K race when you are asked to take a look at a runner who did not complete the race. He is a 29-year-old skinny man who describes a sudden onset of sharp chest pain on the right side with shortness of breath. What is the MOST likely problem?
Spontaneous pneumothorax
You are managing a patient who you believe is severely hypoxic, and the pulse oximeter is not functioning properly. Given this information, what is the BEST thing you could do for the patient?
Start high-flow oxygen.
You respond to a call from the regional airport to remove an elderly patient experiencing respiratory distress from a plane that just landed after a long flight. A respiratory condition that may be caused by a deep vein thrombosis that develops when a person has been sitting for a long time is
pulmonary embolism.
Most patients you encounter as an emergency medical technician (EMT):
breathe normally.
In treating the patient with a history of asthma, it is helpful to assist the patient with:
bronchodilator medication.
When a patient who has COPD develops a viral respiratory infection, he will often need:
bronchodilator treatments.
If the patient has an SPO2 below 90 percent, it is likely that his color will be:
cyanotic.
En route to the hospital, it is important to perform an ongoing assessment of the patient with breathing difficulty. While you are reevaluating your patient, remember that:
decreased wheezing always indicates improvement.
When a blood clot ends up in the lungs, the patient may have sudden development of:
dyspnea.
A permanent disease process that is characterized by destruction of the alveolar walls and distention of the alveolar sacs is a type of COPD called:
emphysema.
A condition that can cause obstruction of an infant's upper airway is swelling of the epiglottis from an infection. This condition is known as:
epiglottitis.
A normal pulse oximeter reading is
greater than 94
Each of the following may indicate that apnea is imminent, EXCEPT
hypertension.
While assessing a patient with breathing difficulty, you see that the patient is restless, anxious, and somewhat confused as to what's going on. These signs are often caused by:
hypoxia affecting the brain.
If the cells of the body are not getting an adequate supply of oxygen, they begin to die. This state of inadequate oxygen supply is called:
hypoxia.
If you are treating a patient with respiratory complaints and the patient is cyanotic, it could indicate that the patient is:
in respiratory failure
If you are assessing a patient who is having breathing difficulty as well as stridor and drooling, you should be careful NOT to:
inspect the airway.
Your 26-year-old female patient has breathing difficulty and has been prescribed an MDI bronchodilator. If all the requirements to administer the medication have been met, the steps include:
instructing the patient to hold her breath for as long as is comfortable after inhaling the medication
Signs of respiratory failure in an infant or child include:
loss of muscle tone.
In the asthma patient, all of the following contribute to the increasing resistance to airflow and difficulty breathing, EXCEPT:
malaise and decreasing appetite.
Your patient is exhibiting minimal use of accessory muscles while breathing. This is a sign of
normal breathing.
A 22-year-old woman tells you she is having a panic attack. Her vital signs are P110, R 36, BP 132/76, and her SPO2 is 99%. Which of the following is the appropriate treatment for this patient?
. Coach her to slow her breathing.
A 4-year-old female patient with a decreased level of consciousness is in respiratory distress. Her airway is patent and respirations are 12 per minute. Breath sounds are diminished bilaterally, and there is noted accessory muscle use with inspiration and expiration. Her pulse is 84 and SpO2 88%. What should be your immediate action?
. Start positive pressure ventilation
Which of the following is NOT a contraindication to administering a bronchodilator by MDI to a patient with asthma?
A. An MDI is not prescribed for the patient. B. The patient has already taken the maximum allowable dose. C. CORRECT ANSWER The patient is in severe respiratory distress. D. The patient is not responsive enough to use the MDI
Which of the following patients would be at risk for a primary spontaneous pneumothorax?
A. A short, obese 65-year-old woman who smokes B. A short 15-year-old female patient with Marfan syndrome C. A tall, overweight 60-year-old man with COPD D. Correct Answer A tall, thin 18-year-old male athlete
All of the following are considered chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, EXCEPT:
A. chronic bronchitis. B. emphysema. C. Correct Answer pulmonary embolism. D. black lung disease.
An alert and oriented 45-year-old female patient complains of shortness of breath. Although her respiratory volume and rate are satisfactory, you note cyanosis in her fingertips and you cannot get the pulse oximeter to show a reading. What should be your next action?
Administer supplemental oxygen
As the lead EMT on a call for a dyspneic patient, you are reviewing the medications the patient takes. If the clinical criteria are met for assisting the patient with the administration of a bronchodilator, which of the following would the EMT be unable to use?
Advair
Your medical director's written protocol instructs you to obtain on-line medical direction prior to assisting a patient with a metered-dose inhaler (MDI). Given this protocol, you must contact:
An emergency physician before assisting with the MDI
A patient with which of the following signs indicates respiratory failure?
Central cyanosis, one- to two-word dyspnea, pulse oximeter reading of 84%
A 4-year-old boy in respiratory distress is sitting upright in bed and drooling. His mother states that he complained of a sore throat throughout the day, and tonight became severely short of breath and started drooling. He is alert with adequate breathing. His skin is very warm to the touch. Vital signs are pulse, 132; respirations, 28 breaths/min; and SpO2, 90% on room air. Which is your first action in caring for this child?
Apply supplemental oxygen
Which of the following is a sign of hyperventilation syndrome?
Carpopedal spasm
You are called to a motor vehicle collision. A 26-year-old female states that she was unrestrained and struck the steering column with her chest after the car she was driving hit another car from behind. She is somewhat confused, and complains of chest pain and difficult and painful breathing when she inhales. Her airway is patent and her breathing is adequate. Assessment of the radial pulse reveals it to be rapid and very irregular and weak. The patient has cyanosis in her nose and fingertips. Her breath sounds are clear and equal, and her skin is moist and pale. The patient informs you that she has asthma and has a metered-dose inhaler (MDI). What is your best initial action in treating this patient?
Apply supplemental oxygen if indicated
As you enter the living room of an adult patient who called 911 for shortness of breath, you observe the patient sitting upright in a chair with a panicked look on her face, struggling to breathe, with obvious suprasternal retractions. Her breathing rate appears to be fast and her tidal volume poor. You can hear rhonchi from her lungs without the aid of a stethoscope. Once at her side, your initial care should be to:
Assess her airway
You are treating a 45-year-old woman who has been struggling in trying to breathe. She has a history of COPD from years of smoking more than two packs of cigarettes a day. Aside from administering the appropriate amount of oxygen, what else is an appropriate treatment?
Assist the patient with her bronchodilator according to your protocols.
Where does the lower airway begin?
At the level of the vocal cords
You are assessing a 45-year-old woman who was in severe respiratory distress. She has not responded to two bronchodilator treatments, she has an altered mental status, and her head is bobbing. What should you do NEXT for this patient?
Begin assisting her ventilations.
Which of the following is consistent with normal breathing?
Bilateral breath sounds
You have been called to a home for an 18-year-old male patient, who informs you that he experienced a sudden onset of shortness of breath and back pain while watching television. He has a history of spontaneous pneumothorax, and the current symptoms he is experiencing are identical to those he felt with a previous pneumothorax. Assessment reveals the patient to be slightly dyspneic with breath sounds clear and intact bilaterally. During transport, what is most critical to continually monitor on this patient?
Breath sounds
After administering the 45-year-old female patient's bronchodilator, you notice that she continues to have considerable distress and her mental status is becoming altered. Aside from administering oxygen, what else should you be considering?
Getting out the bag-valve mask and preparing to assist ventilations
You have been called for a 2-year-old male patient who is sick and having a difficult time breathing. On scene, you find the patient in his mother's arms. He appears to have labored breathing and skin that is warm to the touch. Which of these additional assessment findings would you recognize as the most serious?
Grunting noise heard as the child exhales
A 6-year-old female patient is in acute respiratory distress and is still breathing adequately but will not keep the nonrebreather face mask on her face. In this situation, the EMT should:
Have the mother hold the mask near her daughter's face
Which of the following is NOT a recommended part of the procedure for listening to breath sounds?
Have the patient breathe through the nose to avoid having the patient vocalize
You are caring for a patient with a history of emphysema who has a primary complaint of shortness of breath and the following findings: pulse oximeter reading of 93 percent, heart rate 110, blood pressure 180/86, and respiratory rate 26/minute. You find the patient's skin to be diaphoretic with ashen fingers and toes. There are bilaterally diminished breath sounds with a slight expiratory wheeze, but alveolar sounds are still present. Given these findings, how would you characterize this patient's current ventilation adequacy?
He displays respiratory distress, and he is at risk for deterioration.
You are having a hard time getting the past medical history of a patient who is short of breath. Which piece of information would lead the EMT to believe that the patient has a history of chronic lung disease, such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis?
Her chest is barrel shaped
You have been called to a residence for an 18-year-old female patient with shortness of breath and a history of cystic fibrosis. On scene, you find the patient to be very thin and sick looking. Her airway is patent and breathing adequate, although slightly labored. Her radial pulse is strong, and she has a constant cough, which occasionally produces green- and yellow-colored mucus. Auscultation of the lungs reveals rhonchi to the upper portion of both lungs. Vital signs are pulse, 108; respirations, 20 breaths/min; blood pressure, 98/56 mmHg; and SpO2, 92%. Based on these findings, appropriate care should include:
Humidified oxygen via nasal cannula starting at 2 liters per minute
Which of the following conditions can initially present with lethargy and confusion?
Hypercarbia
What is the MOST severe consequence of reduced airflow from COPD?
Hypoxia
Which of the following is consistent with adequate breathing?
Intact airway
Which of the following is true about hyperventilation syndrome?
It is commonly associated with emotions
Which receptors detect when the alveolar-capillary beds become engorged with blood?
Juxta-capillary receptors
A patient in respiratory distress is exhibiting pursed lip breathing. You realize that he is doing this to:
Keep the small airways open
A 65-year-old man complains of shortness of breath. He is speaking in two-word sentences. You hear crackles when you auscultate lung sounds. Vital signs are P 98, R 26, BP 210/114, and his SPO2 is 86%. You should administer:
positive pressure ventilations via a bag-valve-mask (BVM) device
If your patient is breathing adequately but with difficulty and the pulse oximeter reads 84 percent, you should:
provide oxygen by a nonrebreather mask at 15 lpm.
Besides the symptom of respiratory distress, how would an EMT know that a patient may have a viral infection affecting the respiratory system?
The presence of a fever
During your reassessment of a patient with respiratory distress, which of the following would be a clinical indication that you need to initiate positive pressure ventilation with supplemental oxygen?
There are no alveolar breath sounds.
Which of the following is true in relation to a pulmonary embolism?
There is decreased blood flow to the alveoli
Drugs that are commonly prescribed for patients to assist in the long-term control of a pulmonary pathology but are NOT used during acute deterioration by the EMT have what property?
They contain a steroidal compound.
While you are obtaining your patient's blood pressure, you notice that the needle drops more than 10 mm/Hg each time the patient inhales. This is called:
pulsus paradoxus.
You are by the side of a 77-year-old male patient with a complaint of shortness of breath. Auscultation of his lungs indicates crackles in the bases. In addition, both of his feet are swollen. His SpO2 on room air is 82%. The remainder of his vital signs are pulse, 144; respirations, 26 breaths/min; and blood pressure 168/90, mmHg. The patient reports lower back pain with a history of a "pinched nerve" in that area. He states that he always has this pain. He has difficulty finishing his sentences without gasping for air. What is the most appropriate care for this patient after initiating oxygen?
Transport him in a sitting position
Which of the following includes the proper way to assess for breath sounds?
Use the diaphragm end of the stethoscope, listen over bare skin, and instruct the patient to cough first.
If you are going to assist in the administration of a beta 1-agonist inhaled stimulant, what are the breath sounds you are likely to hear upon auscultation that would warrant the drug and what causes them?
Wheezing; narrowed bronchioles
You are assisting a patient in taking her metered-dose inhaler for the first time. Which of these statements about the side effects of the medication would be most appropriate?
You may feel anxious and your heart rate may increase.
Pulmonary edema can be caused by all of the following EXCEPT
a stroke.
You suspect that a 66-year-old female patient has pneumonia. Vital signs are P110, R20, BP 110/84 and her SpO2 is 92% on room air. You should first
administer oxygen at 2 lpm via nasal cannula
When a patient who was in respiratory failure stops breathing, this is called:
apnea
The complete cessation of breathing effort is known as respiratory:
arrest
Emergency medical care for a child who is experiencing significant difficulty breathing may include:
beginning positive pressure ventilations if breathing becomes inadequate
You have been called for a 6-year-old male patient with shortness of breath. On scene, you find the patient with a runny nose and mucus coming from the right nare. Breath sounds are clear and his SpO2 is 99% on room air. When asked, the patient states that his throat is very sore. His vital signs are pulse, 124; respirations, 20 breaths/min; and temperature, 98.9°F. There is no medical history, according to the mother. Which statement or instruction would be most appropriate for this situation?
"He is stable, but we will take him to the hospital. The danger lies in the infection spreading to the lungs."
When instructing a patient on how to use a small-volume nebulizer, which of these statements would be correct?
"It is really important to occasionally cough during the treatment."