EMT Chapter18

Which of the following statements regarding the acute abdomen is correct?

A. An acute abdomen almost always occurs as the result of blunt trauma to solid abdominal organs. B. The initial pain associated with an acute abdomen tends to be vague and poorly localized. Correct C. The most common cause of an acute abdomen is inflammation of the gallbladder and liver. D. The parietal peritoneum is typically the first abdominal layer that becomes inflamed or irritated.

Which of the following helps filter the blood and has no digestive function?

A. Large intestine B. Small intestine C. Stomach D. Spleen Correct

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?

A. Liver B. Gallbladder C. Kidney Correct D. Pancreas

Which of the following may help reduce your patient's nausea?

A. Low-flow oxygen Correct B. Positive-pressure ventilation C. Oral glucose D. Cricoid pressure

Which of the following is correct about the secondary assessment for a high-priority patient?

A. Never contact medical direction before completing the secondary assessment. B. You may not have time to complete a secondary assessment. Correct C. The secondary assessment must be performed prior to transport. D. Never perform a secondary assessment on a high-priority patient.

Which of the following organs lies in the retroperitoneal space?

A. Spleen B. Gallbladder C. Pancreas Correct D. Liver

Which of the following statements regarding dialysis is correct?

A. The purpose of dialysis is to help the kidneys retain salt and water. B. Hemodialysis is effective but carries a high risk of peritonitis. C. Acute hypertension is a common adverse effect of dialysis. D. Patients who miss a dialysis treatment often present with weakness. Correct

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:

A. acute pancreatitis. B. esophagitis. C. Mallory-Weiss tear. Correct D. esophageal varices.

Your patient complains of abdominal pain that occurs mostly at night or after eating fatty foods. You should suspect ____________.

A. appendicitis B. cholecystitis Correct C. kidney stones D. a hernia

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

A. determine the cause of the patient's complaint B. perform all interventions prior to transport C. avoid transporting the patient if the condition is minor D. identify whether the patient requires rapid transport Correct

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:

A. determine the exact location and cause of his pain. B. transport him in a supine position. C. assess his blood pressure to determine perfusion adequacy. D. be alert for signs and symptoms of shock. Correct

Most patients with abdominal pain prefer to:

A. lie in a supine position with their knees in a flexed position. B. sit fully upright because it helps relax the abdominal muscles. C. sit in a semi-Fowler position with their knees slightly bent. D. lie on their side with their knees drawn into the abdomen. Correct

Your patient complains of chronic "burning" stomach pain that improves after eating. You should suspect:

A. pneumonia. B. aortic aneurysm. C. kidney stones. D. peptic ulcer disease. Correct

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

A. provide emotional support en route to the hospital. Correct B. give 100% oxygen only if signs of shock are present. C. administer analgesic medications to alleviate pain. D. encourage the patient to remain in a supine position.

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:

A. rapidly transport her to the hospital. B. protect her airway from aspiration. Correct C. give her high-flow supplemental oxygen. D. keep her supine and keep her warm.

Pain that may be perceived at a distant point on the surface of the body, such as the back or shoulder, is called:

A. referred pain. Correct B. remote pain. C. radiating pain. D. visceral pain.

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:

A. request a paramedic unit to give the patient pain medication. B. place the patient in a sitting position and transport at once. C. vigorously palpate the abdomen to establish pain severity. D. administer oxygen and prepare for immediate transport. Correct

Urinary tract infections are more common in ____________.

A. sedentary adults B. women Correct C. men D. active adults

Peritonitis may result in shock because:

A. severe pain causes systemic dilation of the vasculature. B. abdominal distention impairs cardiac contractions. C. intra-abdominal hemorrhage is typically present. D. fluid shifts from the bloodstream into body tissues. Correct

When assessing a patient with abdominal pain, you should:

A. visually assess the painful area of the abdomen, but avoid palpation because this could worsen his or her condition. B. observe for abdominal guarding, which is characterized by sudden relaxation of the abdominal muscles when palpated. C. palpate the abdomen in a clockwise direction, beginning with the quadrant after the one the patient indicates is painful. Correct D. ask the patient to point to the area of pain or tenderness and assess for rebound tenderness over that specific area.