Respiratory and Cardiac Emergencies
Which of the following signs or symptoms would you NOT expect to encounter in a patient with congestive heart failure?
Hypotension and flat jugular veins
The head and brain receive their supply of oxygenated blood from the
carotid arteries
Risk factors for a myocardial infarction that CANNOT be controlled include
family history
Which of the following is of LEAST pertinence when obtaining medical history information from a patient complaining of chest discomfort?
family history of hypertension
Which of the following signs or symptoms of acute myocardial infarction is especially common in older women?
fatigue
The iliac arteries immediately subdivide into the
femoral arteries
The left ventricle has the thickest walls because it:
pumps blood into the aorta and systemic circulation.
Hyperventilation can result in alkalosis which is
the buildup of excess base or lack of acids in body fluids
A dissecting aortic aneurysm occurs when:
the inner layers of the aorta become separated.
Ventricular tachycardia causes hypotension because
the left ventricle does not adequately fill with blood.
Immediate transport of a patient with a suspected myocardial infarction is MOST important because
the patient may be eligible to receive thrombolytic therapy.
Which of the following cardiac arrhythmias has the greatest chance of deteriorating into a pulseless rhythm?
ventricular tachycardia
Patients with COPD will often have "dry" lung sounds such as _______________.
wheezing
Pertussis (whooping cough): What is it? Who does it primarily affect? What are the symptoms? What are treatments?
-An airborne bacterial infection -mostly affects children under age 6 -Patients will be feverish and exhibit a "whoop" sound after a coughing attack; Highly contagious and is passed through droplet infection -Watch for signs of dehydration; Suction may be necessary.
Influenza Type A What is it? What are some symptoms? What can it lead to?
-An animal respiratory disease that has mutated to infect humans. -Symptoms: fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, headache, and fatigue. -May lead to pneumonia or dehydration
Tuberculosis (TB) What is it? Symptoms? Who does it affect?
-bacterial infection that most commonly affects the lungs, but it can also be found in almost any other organ. -Patients often complain of fever, coughing, fatigue, night sweats, and weight loss. -Prevalence is higher in homeless people, prison inmates, nursing home residents, persons who abuse intravenous drugs or alcohol, and those with HIV.
Respiratory syncytial virus What is it? Who does it primarily affect? What is the treatment?
-infection in lungs and breathing passages -common in young children. -look for signs of dehydration, treat airway and breathing problems as appropriate
Pneumonia: What is it? What are the two types? Who does it primarily affect? How is it treated?
-infection of the lungs; often a secondary infection that begins after an upper respiratory tract infection. *Bacterial pneumonia: comes on quickly and result in high fevers. *Viral pneumonia: presents more gradually and is less severe. -especially affects people who are chronically and terminally ill -Assess temperature to determine presence of fever; provide airway support and supplemental oxygen.
If three defibrillations with the AED are necessary, CPR may be stopped for up to
90 seconds
When would it be MOST appropriate for a patient to take nitroglycerin?
Chest pain that does not immediately subside with rest
What is the term describing an inflammation and swelling of the pharynx, larynx, and trachea, typically seen in children between 6 months and 3 years of age?
Croup
_____________________________is the most common type of COPD.
Emphysema
What is the function of the atrioventricular (AV) node?
It allows time for the blood to pass into the ventricles.
Bronchiolitis: What is it? Who does it primarily affect? What treatment is given?
It is a viral illness in which bronchioles become inflamed, swell, and fill with mucus. Affects newborns and toddlers. Provide oxygen therapy and reassess for signs of respiratory distress
T/F: The AED will not analyze the rhythm of a moving patient
T
When the left side of the heart cannot remove blood from the lung as fast as the right side delivers it, fluid builds up within the alveoli and in lung tissue. This accumulation of fluid is referred to as ____________________________________.
Pulmonary edema
The electrical impulse generated by the heart originates in the:
SA node
T/F TB can remain inactive for years before producing any symptoms
T
Which of the following statements regarding unstable angina is MOST correct?
Unstable angina typically follows an unpredictable or unexpected pattern
Patients with cardiac compromise MOST commonly experience syncope as a result of
a cardiac arrhythmia
Pink, frothy sputum may be an indication of ___________________.
acute pulmonary edema
The MOST common reason that many people experiencing a myocardial infarction do not seek immediate medical attention is because they
are in denial
The ability of cardiac muscle cells to contract spontaneously without a stimulus from a nerve source is called:
automaticity
The electrical stimulus that originates in the heart's primary pacemaker is controlled by impulses from the brain that arrive by way of the:
autonomic nervous system
The inferior vena cava returns deoxygenated blood to the right side of the heart from all of the following organs, EXCEPT the
brain
Pulmonary edema is usually caused by __________________.
congestive heart failure
Rapid, labored breathing in a patient with signs and symptoms of AMI should make you suspicious for:
congestive heart failure
The myocardium receives oxygenated blood from the ____________, which originate(s) from the __________.
coronary arteries; aorta
The pain associated with angina pectoris or acute myocardial infarction is MOST commonly described as
crushing
A percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) restores blood flow to the ischemic myocardium by
dilating the affected coronary artery with a small inflatable balloon
Prior to defibrillating a patient with an AED, it is MOST important that you:
ensure that no one is touching the patient
Major risk factors for a myocardial infarction include all of the following, EXCEPT
hypoglycemia
Which of the following would cause the greatest increase in cardiac output?
increased heart rate and increased stroke volume
The AED is MOST advantageous to the EMT-B because
it delivers prompt defibrillation to patients with ventricular fibrillation
Where are ECG/defibrillator pads placed on the patient?
one to the right of the upper sternum and the other pad just to the left and below the left nipple
The EMT-B should use an automated external defibrillator (AED) on a child between 1 and 7 years of age if
pediatric pads are available and the child is in cardiac arrest
A 67-year-old female presents with difficulty breathing and chest discomfort that awakened her from her sleep. She states that she has congestive heart failure, has had two previous heart attacks, and has prescribed nitroglycerin. She is conscious and alert with adequate breathing. Her blood pressure is 94/64 mm Hg and her heart rate is 120 beats/min. Treatment for this patient includes:
placing her in an upright position
A _________________________ is a blood clot that circulates through the venous system and the right side of the heart and lodges in the pulmonary artery
pulmonary embolism
Patients with pulmonary edema, will often have "wet" lung sounds such as _____________________ or _________________.
rhonchi or crackles
Which of the following veins is located inferior to the trunk?
sapheneous
When the myocardium requires more oxygen
the arteries supplying the heart dilate
The descending aorta divides into the two iliac arteries at the level of the
umbilicus
When documenting a patient's description of his or her chest pain or discomfort, the EMT should:
use the patient's own words
The MOST common cause of sudden death following an acute myocardial infarction is
ventricular fibrilation
