EMT Ch. 17 Quiz *

Individuals with chronic alcoholism are predisposed to intracranial bleeding and hypoglycemia secondary to abnormalities in the: A. kidneys. B. liver. C. brain. D. pancreas.

B. liver.

The left cerebral hemisphere controls: A. the right side of the body. B. heart rate and pupil reaction. C. breathing and blood pressure. D. the right side of the face.

A. the right side of the body.

Which of the following MOST accurately describes a simple partial seizure? A. A seizure that begins in one extremity B. A generalized seizure without incontinence C. A seizure that is not preceded by an aura D. A seizure that causes the patient to stare blankly

A. A seizure that begins in one extremity

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: A. obtain a description of how the seizure developed. B. determine if the patient is a known alcohol abuser. C. determine when he was last seen by his physician. D. ask her how long the patient has been taking his medication.

A. obtain a description of how the seizure developed.

Status epilepticus is characterized by: A. prolonged seizures without a return of consciousness. B. an absence seizure that is not preceded by an aura. C. profound tachycardia and total muscle flaccidity. D. generalized seizures that last less than 5 minutes.

A. prolonged seizures without a return of consciousness.

Your patient opens his eyes, moans, and pulls away from you when you pinch his trapezius muscle. You should assign a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of: A. 6 B. 8 C. 9 D. 7

B. 8

Which of the following MOST accurately describes the cause of an ischemic stroke? A. Acute atherosclerotic disease B. Blockage of a cerebral artery C. Narrowing of a carotid artery D. Rupture of a cerebral artery

B. Blockage of a cerebral artery

Which of the following symptoms would lead the EMT to believe that a patient's headache is caused by sinus congestion? A. There is associated neck stiffness B. The pain is worse when bending over C. The headache began suddenly D. There is numbness in the extremities

B. The pain is worse when bending over

The MOST significant risk factor for a hemorrhagic stroke is: A. severe stress. B. hypertension. C. heavy exertion. D. diabetes mellitus.

B. hypertension.

Which of the following MOST accurately describes what the patient will experience during the postictal state that follows a seizure? A. Hyperventilation and hypersalivation B. A gradually decreasing level of consciousness C. Confusion and fatigue D. A rapidly improving level of consciousness

C. Confusion and fatigue

Which of the following conditions is NOT a common cause of seizures? A. Acute alcohol withdrawal B. Acute hypoglycemia C. Hypotension D. Poisoning or overdose

C. Hypotension

A patient who is possibly experiencing a stroke is NOT eligible for thrombolytic (fibrinolytic) therapy if he or she: A. is older than 60 years of age. B. has had a prior heart attack. C. has bleeding within the brain. D. has a GCS score that is less than 8.

C. has bleeding within the brain.

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: A. place a bite block in between her teeth, apply high-flow oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask, and consider inserting a nasopharyngeal airway. B. wait for the seizure to stop, manually open her airway, insert an oropharyngeal airway, and assess her oxygen saturation with the pulse oximeter. C. maintain her airway with manual head positioning, suction her airway to remove the vomitus, insert a nasopharyngeal airway, and administer high-flow oxygen. D. restrain her extremities to prevent her from injuring herself, suction her airway to remove the vomitus, and assist her ventilations with a bag-mask device.

C. maintain her airway with manual head positioning, suction her airway to remove the vomitus, insert a nasopharyngeal airway, and administer high-flow oxygen.

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: A. insert an oral airway, apply oxygen, and transport. B. assist her ventilations with a bag-valve mask. C. suction her oropharynx and transport immediately. D. administer one tube of oral glucose and transport.

C. suction her oropharynx and transport immediately.

Your patient answers your questions appropriately, although her eyes remain closed the entire time. She moves each extremity on command, although her left side is weaker than the right. You should assign a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of: A. 15 B. 13 C. 14 D. 12

D. 12

Which of the following patients would MOST likely demonstrate typical signs of infection, such as a fever? A. A 35-year-old female in the later stages of AIDS B. An 88-year-old male with chronic renal problems C. A 3-month-old female who was born prematurely D. A 17-year-old male with anxiety

D. A 17-year-old male with anxiety

A transient ischemic attack (TIA) occurs when: A. medications are given to dissolve a cerebral blood clot. B. a small cerebral artery ruptures and causes minimal damage. C. signs and symptoms resolve spontaneously within 48 hours. D. a small clot in a cerebral artery causes temporary symptoms.

D. a small clot in a cerebral artery causes temporary symptoms.

Law enforcement has summoned you to a nightclub, where a 22-year-old female was found unconscious in an adjacent alley. Your primary assessment reveals that her respirations are rapid and shallow and her pulse is rapid and weak. She is wearing a medical alert bracelet that identifies her as an epileptic. There is an empty bottle of vodka next to the patient. You should: A. place a bite block in her mouth in case she has a seizure and transport at once. B. apply oxygen via nonrebreathing mask and transport her for a blood-alcohol test. C. apply oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask, place her on her left side, and transport. D. assist ventilations, perform a rapid exam, and prepare for immediate transport.

D. assist ventilations, perform a rapid exam, and prepare for immediate transport.

When transporting a stable stroke patient with a paralyzed extremity, place the patient in a: A. supine position with the legs elevated 6″ to 12″. B. sitting position with the head at a 45° to 90° angle. C. recumbent position with the paralyzed side up. D. recumbent position with the paralyzed side down.

D. recumbent position with the paralyzed side down.

You respond to a residence for a child who is having a seizure. Upon arrival at the scene, you enter the residence and find the mother holding her child, a 2-year-old male. The child is conscious and crying. According to the mother, the child had been running a high fever and then experienced a seizure that lasted approximately 3 minutes. You should: A. advise the mother to take her child to the doctor the following day. B. call medical control and request permission to give the child aspirin. C. cover the child with wet towels and give oxygen via nasal cannula. D. transport the child to the hospital and reassure the mother en route.

D. transport the child to the hospital and reassure the mother en route.