EMT Chapter 15 Respiratory Emergencies

When assisting an asthmatic patient with a small-volume nebulizer attached to oxygen, what is the appropriate flow rate for the oxygen?

6 L/min

Which of the following medications can be used for the treatment of an acute asthma attack?

Albuterol

Which of the following is a common MDI drug?

Alupent

Which of the following statements is true regarding asthma?

Asthma involves excessive mucous production.

In addition to asthma, which of the following conditions is associated with wheezing?

Bronchitis

The respiratory distress that accompanies emphysema is caused by

Chronic stretching of the alveolar walls

In addition to asthma, wheezing can be caused by COPD. What are the underlying causes of chronic bronchitis and emphysema?

Chronic bronchitis is a condition resulting in ongoing irritation of the trachea and bronchi. Excess mucus production causes obstruction of the smaller airways. Further weakening of the airways results from a loss of protective cells and mechanisms needed to remove foreign particles from the airways. While there are numerous causes of chronic bronchitis, cigarette smoking is the most notorious. Emphysema, also predominately caused by tobacco smoke, involves the loss of elastic material around the air spaces as a result of chronic stretching of the alveoli when inflamed. As a result of diminished elasticity, air is no longer expelled rapidly from the alveoli, and the walls of the alveoli and surrounding small airways bloat to trap air and collapse easily after exhalation.

A young female is unconscious after intentionally ingesting a large amount of aspirin. You would most likely find her respirations

Deep and rapid

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 100% oxygen, you should:

Determine id she has been prescribed a beta-agonist inhaler

You are attending to a 28-year-old female patient in respiratory distress. The patient has had a high fever all day, and the respiratory distress came on very quickly. Your patient is now sitting in a chair, leaning forward with her hands on her knees. She is making high-pitched sounds with each breath and does not seem to be moving very much air. Based on this information, your patient is most likely suffering from

Epiglottitis

At the onset of an acute asthma attack, patients commonly experience difficulty breathing and:

Expiratory wheezing

In a healthy individual, the brain stem stimulates breathing on the basis of:

Increased carbon dioxide levels

The two processes that occur during respiration are

Inspiration and expiration

You are assessing a patient with respiratory distress and are unsure if the cause is congestive heart failure (CHF) or chronic obstructvie pulmonary disease (COPD). Which of the following clinical signs would be the MOST helpful in determining whether the patient has CHF or COPD?

Jugular vein distenson

Your patient is complaining of fatigue. She is breathing at 18 breaths per minute, has equal chest rise and fall, and has clear lung sounds. She is presenting with symptoms of

Normal breathing

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 focused secondary assessment

You are attending to a 5-year-old male patient who has had a cold and fever for the last two days. His parents became concerned when he started having coughing spells that would last for over a minute, during which he would turn blue. After the coughing attack, his parents reported that he seemed to be sucking the air back in. Based on this information, your patient is most likely suffering from

Pertussis

Your elderly patient recently had surgery. She now complains of a sudden onset of dyspnea and sharp chest pain. You should suspect ___________.

Pulmonary embolus

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

The patient is exhibiting signs of respiratory distress, such as accessory muscle use and difficulty speaking. Which of the following is also a sign of respiratory distress?

Pursed lip breathing

You are attending to a 6-year-old female patient. Her parents tell you that she has been sick for at least three days with the respiratory infection that has been going around her school. They became concerned hen she stopped drinking fluids, and they could not get her to take in any liquids. The patient is showing signs of significant dehydration. Based on this information, your patient is most likely suffering from

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection

The hypoxic drive is the body's

Secondary respiratory drive

Harsh, high-pitched inspiratory sounds are characteristic of:

Stridor

During the primary assessment, you determine the patient has a life-threatening emergency. You should now

Transport rapidly

Explain why carbon monoxide has been called "the silent killer"?

Unlike many other toxic gases, carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless, and tasteless. Carbon monoxide results from incomplete oxidation of carbon in combustion. Commonly produced by household appliances, such as gas water heaters, grills, and generators, this toxic gas is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in the United States. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are vague and mimic other conditions, such as the flu, making it very difficult to recognize. Carbon monoxide poisoning results in hypoxia to tissues of body and can result in permanent organ damage and death. EMS providers need to take extreme caution when carbon monoxide poisoning is suspected to protect themselves from possible exposure.

Which of the following filters, warms, and humidifies air after inhalation?

Upper airway

Albuterol is a generic name for

Ventolin

While administering a nebulizer of albuterol to your patient, you assess for possible side effects to the medication. Which of the following is typically NOT a side effect of nebulized albuterol? Vomiting Increased pulse rate Nervousness Muscle tremors

Vomiting

What are the signs and symptoms of a pulmonary embolism?

• Dyspnea • Acute chest pain • Hemoptysis (coughing up blood) • Cyanosis • Tachypnea • Varying degrees of hypoxia