Chapter 30
Following a stab wound to the left anterior chest, a 25-year-old male presents with a decreased level of consciousness and signs of shock. Which of the following additional assessment findings should increase your index of suspicion for a cardiac tamponade? A.Engorged jugular veins B.Widening pulse pressure C.Diminished breath sounds D.A rapid, irregular pulse
A. Engorged jugular veins Chapter 30, Page 1106
Which of the following organs or structures does not reside within the mediastinum? A.Lungs B.Trachea C.Vena cavae D.Esophagus
A. Lungs Chapter 30, Page 1093
While jogging, a 19-year-old male experienced an acute onset of shortness of breath and pleuritic chest pain. He is conscious and alert with stable vital signs. Your assessment reveals that he has diminished breath sounds over the left side of the chest. You should: A.administer oxygen and transport to the hospital. B.immediately perform a rapid head-to-toe exam. C.recognize that he needs a needle decompression. D.circumferentially tape a dressing around his chest.
A. administer oxygen and transport to the hospital. Chapter 30, Pages 1102-1103
A 37-year-old male was pinned between a flatbed truck and a loading dock. On exam, you find bruising to the chest, distended neck veins, bilaterally diminished breath sounds, and bilateral scleral hemorrhaging. You should: A.aggressively manage his airway. B.request a paramedic ambulance. C.perform a secondary assessment. D.suspect a severe hemopneumothorax.
A. aggressively manage his airway. Chapter 30, Page 1109
Patients with rib fractures will commonly: A.breathe rapidly and shallowly. B.take a series of deep breaths. C.prefer to lie in a supine position. D.develop a sucking chest wound.
A. breathe rapidly and shallowly. Chapter 30, Page 1107
The thoracic cavity is separated from the abdominal cavity by the: A.diaphragm. B.anterior rib cage. C.intercostal margin. D.costovertebral angle.
A. diaphragm. Chapter 30, Page 1093
A simple pneumothorax: A.is commonly caused by blunt chest trauma. B.often has a nontraumatic cause. C.is caused by penetrating chest trauma. D.heals on its own without any treatment.
A. is commonly caused by blunt chest trauma. Chapter 30, Page 1104
Irritation or damage to the pleural surfaces that causes sharp chest pain during inhalation is called: A.pleurisy. B.dyspnea. C.pneumonitis. D.pneumothorax.
A. pleurisy. Chapter 30, Page 1097
Pleural fluid is contained between the: A.visceral and parietal pleurae. B.parietal pleura and the heart. C.visceral pleura and the lung. D.parietal pleura and the chest wall.
A. visceral and parietal pleurae. Chapter 30, Page 1093
A 19-year-old male is unresponsive, apneic, and pulseless after being struck in the center of the chest with a softball. Based on the mechanism of injury, what most likely occurred? A.Ventricular fibrillation when the impact occurred during a critical portion of the cardiac cycle B.Asystole secondary to massive intrathoracic hemorrhage due to traumatic rupture of the aorta C.Fracture of the sternum that caused a rupture of the myocardium and led to a cardiac dysrhythmia D.Collapse of both lungs due to fractured ribs that perforated the lung tissue and caused cardiac arrest
A.Ventricular fibrillation when the impact occurred during a critical portion of the cardiac cycle Chapter 30, Page 1109
A patient with a chest injury has a blood pressure of 100/60 mm Hg and a pulse rate of 120 beats/min. Which of the following additional findings should make you suspect a pericardial tamponade? A.A pulse that becomes irregular B.Repeat BP of 90/68 mm Hg C.Flattening of the jugular veins D.Unilaterally absent breath sounds
B. Repeat BP of 90/68 mm Hg Chapter 30, Page 1106
An open pneumothorax is: A.a fractured rib that perforates the tissue of the lung surface. B.an open chest wound through which air moves during breathing. C.extreme pleural pressure that causes the lung to rupture. D.the entry of air into the pleural space from a perforated lung.
B. an open chest wound through which air moves during breathing. Chapter 30, Page 1103
Signs and symptoms of a tension pneumothorax include all of the following, except: A.profound cyanosis. B.collapsed jugular veins. C.altered mental status. D.unilaterally absent breath sounds.
B. collapsed jugular veins. Chapter 30, Page 1105
Hemoptysis is defined as: A.vomiting blood. B.coughing up blood. C.abnormal blood clotting. D.blood in the pleural space.
B. coughing up blood. Chapter 30, Page 1097
When a person is lying supine at the end of exhalation, the diaphragm: A.contracts and flattens inferiorly. B.might rise as high as the nipple line. C.is less prone to penetrating trauma. D.descends below the level of the navel.
B. might rise as high as the nipple line. Chapter 30, Page 1092
If a person's tidal volume decreases, but his or her respiratory rate remains unchanged: A.minute volume will increase. B.minute volume will decrease. C.minute volume will remain unchanged. D.excess carbon dioxide will be eliminated.
B. minute volume will decrease. Chapter 30, Page 1095
You have sealed the open chest wound of a 40-year-old male who was stabbed in the anterior chest. Your reassessment reveals that he is experiencing increasing respiratory distress and tachycardia, and is developing cyanosis. You should: A.begin ventilatory assistance. B.partially remove the dressing. C.begin rapid transport at once. D.call for a paramedic ambulance.
B. partially remove the dressing. Chapter 30, Page 1098
A man called EMS 12 hours after injuring his chest. Your assessment reveals a flail segment to the right side of the chest. The patient is experiencing respiratory distress, and his oxygen saturation is 78%. His breath sounds are equal bilaterally, and his jugular veins are normal. You should suspect: A.traumatic asphyxia. B.pulmonary contusion. C.massive hemothorax. D.tension pneumothorax.
B. pulmonary contusion. Chapter 30, Page 1108
Immediate death from blunt chest trauma following a motor vehicle crash is most often the result of: A.a tension pneumothorax. B.traumatic aortic rupture. C.penetrating lung injuries. D.a massive cardiac contusion.
B. traumatic aortic rupture. Chapter 30, Page 1096
You are transporting a stable patient with a possible pneumothorax. The patient is receiving high-flow oxygen and has an oxygen saturation of 95%. During your reassessment, you find that the patient is now confused, hypotensive, and profusely diaphoretic. What is most likely causing this patient's deterioration? A.A total collapse of the affected lung B.Hidden bleeding in the thoracic cavity C.Compression of the aorta and vena cava D.Blood accumulation in the pleural space
C. Compression of the aorta and vena cava Chapter 30, Page 1105
Pneumothorax is defined as: A.accumulation of air between the lungs. B.blood collection within the lung tissue. C.accumulation of air in the pleural space. D.blood collection within the pleural space.
C. accumulation of air in the pleural space. Chapter 30, Page 1102
Subcutaneous emphysema is an indication that: A.at least half of one lung has completely collapsed. B.your patient is experiencing a pericardial tamponade. C.air is escaping into the chest wall from a damaged lung. D.blood is slowly accumulating within the tissue of the lung.
C. air is escaping into the chest wall from a damaged lung. Chapter 30, Page 1104
During your assessment of a patient with blunt chest trauma, you note that the patient has shallow breathing and paradoxical movement of the left chest wall. You should: A.request a paramedic to decompress the chest. B.make note of it and continue your assessment. C.assist ventilations with a bag valve mask. D.apply high-flow oxygen via nonrebreathing mask.
C. assist ventilations with a bag valve mask. Chapter 30, Page 1098
A spinal cord injury at the level of C7 would most likely result in: A.immediate cardiac arrest. B.paralysis of the diaphragm. C.paralysis of the intercostal muscles. D.paralysis of all the respiratory muscles.
C. paralysis of the intercostal muscles. Chapter 30, Page 1094
The ________ nerves supply the diaphragm. A.vagus B.costal C.phrenic D.intercostal
C. phrenic Chapter 30, Page 1094
Very young children tend to breathe predominantly with their diaphragm because: A.their chest wall and ribs are very pliable. B.they require less tidal volume per breath. C.their intercostal muscles are not fully developed. D.there is no nerve innervation of the intercostal muscles.
C. their intercostal muscles are not fully developed. Chapter 30, Page 1092
If a patient with a chest injury only inhales small amounts of air per breath, he or she: A.often breathes at a slower rate because of lung damage caused by the injury. B.will eliminate more carbon dioxide than if he or she were breathing deeply. C.must increase his or her respiratory rate to maintain adequate minute volume. D.will maintain adequate minute volume if his or her respiratory rate stays the same.
C.must increase his or her respiratory rate to maintain adequate minute volume. Chapter 30, Page 1095
Elevation of the rib cage during inhalation occurs when: A.the diaphragm descends. B.abdominal contents descend. C.intrathoracic pressure decreases. D.the intercostal muscles contract.
Chapter 30, Page 1094
A patient who presents with profound cyanosis following a chest injury: A.should be placed in Trendelenburg's position. B.is most likely experiencing severe blood loss. C.has most likely experienced a ruptured aorta. D.requires prompt ventilation and oxygenation.
Chapter 30, Page 1097
A 28-year-old male was struck in the chest with a baseball bat during an altercation. He is conscious and alert and complains of severe chest pain. Your assessment reveals a large area of ecchymosis over the sternum and a rapid, irregular pulse. In addition to providing supplemental oxygen, you should: A.apply an AED and assess his BP. B.prepare for immediate transport. C.determine if he has cardiac problems. D.apply bulky dressings to the sternum.
Chapter 30, Page 1098
To avoid exacerbating a patient's injury, it is especially important to use extreme caution when providing positive-pressure ventilation to patients with a: A.flail chest. B.pneumothorax. C.cardiac tamponade. D.myocardial contusion.
Chapter 30, Page 1098
A flail chest occurs when: A.a segment of the chest wall is detached from the thoracic cage. B.more than three ribs are fractured on the same side of the chest. C.multiple ribs are fractured on both sides of the thoracic cage. D.a segment of fractured ribs bulges during the inhalation phase.
Chapter 30, Page 1107
A rapid, irregular pulse following blunt trauma to the chest is most suggestive of a: Select one: A.ruptured aorta. B.myocardial contusion. C.pericardial tamponade. D.tension pneumothorax.
Chapter 30, Page 1109
Common signs and symptoms of a chest injury include all of the following, except: A.tachypnea. B.hematemesis. C.localized pain. D.chest wall ecchymosis.
Chapter 30, Pages 1096-1097
The phrenic nerves control the diaphragm and exit the spinal cord at: A.C1 and C2. B.C3 and C4. C.C1, C2, and C3. D.C3, C4, and C5.
D. C3, C4, and C5. Chapter 30, Page 1094
You respond to a residence for a 40-year-old female who was assaulted by her husband; the scene has been secured by law enforcement. Upon your arrival, you find the patient lying supine on the floor in the kitchen. She is semiconscious with severely labored breathing. Further assessment reveals a large bruise to the left anterior chest, jugular venous distention, and unilaterally absent breath sounds. As your partner is supporting her ventilations, you should: A.insert an oropharyngeal airway. B.obtain a set of baseline vital signs. C.perform a focused secondary exam. D.immediately request ALS support.
D. immediately request ALS support. Chapter 30, Page 1105
The most critical treatment for a tension pneumothorax involves: A. placing a bulky dressing over the affected side of the chest. B. assisting the patient's breathing with increased tidal volume. C. surgically removing the portion of the lung that is damaged. D. inserting a needle through the rib cage into the pleural space.
D. inserting a needle through the rib cage into the pleural space. Chapter 30, Page 1105
You arrive at the scene of a major motor vehicle crash. The patient, a 50-year-old female, was removed from her vehicle prior to your arrival. Bystanders who removed her state that she was not wearing a seatbelt. The patient is unresponsive, tachycardic, and diaphoretic. Your assessment reveals bilaterally clear and equal breath sounds, a midline trachea, and collapsed jugular veins. You should be most suspicious that this patient has experienced a: A.massive hemothorax. B.tension pneumothorax. C.pericardial tamponade. D.laceration of the aorta.
D. laceration of the aorta. Chapter 30, Page 1110
Following blunt trauma to the chest, an 18-year-old female presents with respiratory distress, shallow breathing, and cyanosis. Her blood pressure is 80/50 mm Hg and her pulse is 130 beats/min and thready. You should: A.apply 100% oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask. B.place her supine and elevate her lower extremities. C.perform a rapid head-to-toe physical assessment. D.provide ventilation assistance with a bag valve mask.
D. provide ventilation assistance with a bag valve mask. Chapter 30, Page 1098
When assessing a patient with a hemothorax, you will most likely find: A.jugular venous engorgement. B.ipsilateral tracheal deviation. C.distant or muffled heart tones. D.signs and symptoms of shock.
D. signs and symptoms of shock. Chapter 30, Page 1105
