EMT Chapter 18 Gastrointestinal Emergencies

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? Select one: A. Kidney B. Gallbladder C. Pancreas D. Liver

A. Kidney Chapter 18, page 709, Pathophysiology

Which of the following may help reduce your patient's nausea? Select one: A. Low-flow oxygen B. Cricoid pressure C. Positive-pressure ventilation D. Oral glucose

A. Low-flow oxygen Chapter 18, page 719, Emergency Medical Care

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

A. The initial pain associated with an acute abdomen tends to be vague and poorly localized. Chapter 18, page 708, Pathophysiology

Which of the following is correct about the secondary assessment for a high-priority patient? Select one: A. You may not have time to complete a secondary assessment. B. The secondary assessment must be performed prior to transport. C. Never contact medical direction before completing the secondary assessment. D. Never perform a secondary assessment on a high-priority patient.

A. You may not have time to complete a secondary assessment. Chapter 18 page 715, Patient Assessment

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

A. be alert for signs and symptoms of shock. Chapter 18, pages 716 and 718-719, Emergency Medical Care

Peritonitis may result in shock because: Select one: A. fluid shifts from the bloodstream into body tissues. B. severe pain causes systemic dilation of the vasculature. C. intra-abdominal hemorrhage is typically present. D. abdominal distention impairs cardiac contractions.

A. fluid shifts from the bloodstream into body tissues. Chapter 18, page 708, Pathophysiology

An important aspect in the treatment of a patient with severe abdominal pain is to: Select one: A. provide emotional support en route to the hospital. B. administer analgesic medications to alleviate pain. C. give 100% oxygen only if signs of shock are present. D. encourage the patient to remain in a supine position.

A. provide emotional support en route to the hospital. Chapter 18, page 718, Patient Assessment

Pain that may be perceived at a distant point on the surface of the body, such as the back or shoulder, is called: Select one: A. referred pain. B. remote pain. C. radiating pain. D. visceral pain.

A. referred pain. Chapter 18, page 708, Pathophysiology

Urinary tract infections are more common in ____________. Select one: A. women B. sedentary adults C. men D. active adults

A. women Chapter 18, page 712, Pathophysiology

Which of the following helps filter the blood and has no digestive function? Select one: A. Small intestine B. Spleen C. Stomach D. Large intestine

B. Spleen Chapter 18, page 706, Anatomy and Physiology

Your patient complains of abdominal pain that occurs mostly at night or after eating fatty foods. You should suspect ____________. Select one: A. appendicitis B. cholecystitis C. kidney stones D. a hernia

B. cholecystitis Chapter 18, pages 709-710, Pathophysiology

Most patients with abdominal pain prefer to: Select one: A. sit in a semi-Fowler position with their knees slightly bent. B. lie on their side with their knees drawn into the abdomen. C. lie in a supine position with their knees in a flexed position. D. sit fully upright because it helps relax the abdominal muscles.

B. lie on their side with their knees drawn into the abdomen. Chapter 18, page 718, Patient Assessment

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: Select one: A. esophagitis. B. acute pancreatitis. C. Mallory-Weiss tear. D. esophageal varices.

C. Mallory-Weiss tear. Chapter 18, page 711, Pathophysiology

For a patient with a gastrointestinal complaint, it is MOST important for the EMT to _________. Select one: A. perform all interventions prior to transport B. determine the cause of the patient's complaint C. identify whether the patient requires rapid transport D. avoid transporting the patient if the condition is minor

C. identify whether the patient requires rapid transport Chapter 18, page 705, Introduction

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

C. palpate the abdomen in a clockwise direction, beginning with the quadrant after the one the patient indicates is painful. Chapter 18, page 717, Patient Assessment

Which of the following organs lies in the retroperitoneal space? Select one: A. Liver B. Gallbladder C. Spleen D. Pancreas

D. Pancreas Chapter 18, page 705, Anatomy and Physiology

Which of the following statements regarding dialysis is correct? Select one: A. Hemodialysis is effective but carries a high risk of peritonitis. B. The purpose of dialysis is to help the kidneys retain salt and water. C. Acute hypertension is a common adverse effect of dialysis. D. Patients who miss a dialysis treatment often present with weakness.

D. Patients who miss a dialysis treatment often present with weakness. Chapter 18, page 719, Dialysis Emergencies

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

D. administer oxygen and prepare for immediate transport. Chapter 18, page 715, Patient Assessment

Your patient complains of chronic "burning" stomach pain that improves after eating. You should suspect: Select one: A. kidney stones. B. pneumonia. C. aortic aneurysm. D. peptic ulcer disease.

D. peptic ulcer disease. Chapter 18, pages 708-709 Pathophysiology

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

D. protect her airway from aspiration. Chapter 18, page 718, Patient Assessment