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Solid abdominal organs include the:
A. stomach and small intestine.
B. spleen, kidneys, and pancreas.
C. gallbladder and large intestine.
D. urinary bladder, colon, and ureters.
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B
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Which of the following organs would MOST likely bleed profusely if injured?
A. liver
B. stomach
C. appendix
D. gallbladder
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A
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Which of the following organs lies in the retroperitoneal space?
A. liver
B. spleen
C. pancreas
C. gallbladder
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C
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Injury to a hollow abdominal organ would MOST likely result in:
A. pain secondary to blood in the peritoneum.
B. profound shock due to severe internal bleeding.
C. impairment in the blood’s clotting abilities.
D. leakage of contents into the abdominal cavity.
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D
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Functions of the liver include:
A. storage of bile, which is produced in the gallbladder.
B. production of substances necessary for blood clotting.
C. production of hormones that regulate blood sugar levels.
D. release of amylase, which breaks down starches into sugar.
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B
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Which of the following organs assists in the filtration of blood, serves as a blood reservoir, and produces antibodies?
A. liver
B. kidney
C. spleen
D. pancreas
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C
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The kidneys help to regulate blood pressure by:
A. retaining key electrolytes, such as potassium.
B. eliminating toxic waste products from the body.
C. removing sodium, and thus water, from the body.
D. accommodating a large amount of blood volume.
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C
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The parietal peritoneum lines the:
A. retroperitoneal space.
B. lungs and chest cavity.
C. walls of the abdominal cavity.
D. surface of the abdominal organs.
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C
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The MOST common and significant complication associated with an acute abdomen is:
A. peritonitis.
B. high fever.
C. severe pain.
D. internal bleeding.
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A
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In the presence of ileus, the only way the stomach can empty itself is by:
A. diarrhea.
B. vomiting.
C. muscular contraction.
D. spontaneous rupture.
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B
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Peritonitis may result in shock because:
A. intra-abdominal hemorrhage is typically present.
B. fluid shifts from the bloodstream into body tissues.
C. abdominal distention impairs cardiac contractions.
D. severe pain causes systemic dilation of the vasculature.
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B
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In contrast to the parietal peritoneum, the visceral peritoneum:
A. is supplied by the same nerves from the spinal cord that supply the skin of the abdomen.
B. lines the walls of the abdominal cavity and is stimulated when the solid abdominal organs contract.
C. is less likely to become inflamed or infected because it lines the abdominal organs themselves.
D. is supplied by nerves of the autonomic nervous system, which are less able to localize pain or sensation.
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D
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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.
B. radiating pain.
C. visceral pain.
D. remote pain.
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A
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A 35-year-old mildly obese woman is complaining of localized pain in the right upper quadrant with referred pain to the right shoulder. The MOST likely cause of her pain is:
A. acute cystitis.
B. acute cholecystitis.
C. appendicitis.
D. pancreatitis.
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B
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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. kidney
C. pancreas
D. gallbladder
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B
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Pain that is localized to the lower back and/or lower abdominal quadrants is MOST suggestive of:
A. acute pancreatitis.
B. an aortic aneurysm.
C. a kidney infection.
D. acute appendicitis.
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B
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Which of the following statements regarding the acute abdomen is correct?
A. The most common cause of an acute abdomen is inflammation of the gallbladder and liver.
B. The parietal peritoneum is typically the first abdominal layer that becomes inflamed or irritated.
C. The initial pain associated with an acute abdomen tends to be vague and poorly localized.
D. An acute abdomen almost always occurs as the result of blunt trauma to solid abdominal organs.
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C
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Erosion of the protective layer of the stomach or duodenum secondary to overactivity of digestive juices results in:
A. ileus.
B. an ulcer.
C. appendicitis.
D. cholecystitis.
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B
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Which of the following is characteristic of peptic ulcer disease (PUD)?
A. the passage of bright red blood in the stool or coughing up blood
B. symptom relief after taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
C. sharp pain that is typically located in both lower abdominal quadrants
D. burning or pain in the stomach that subsides immediately after eating
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D
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Pain that radiates to the right lower quadrant from the umbilical area, nausea and vomiting, and anorexia are MOST indicative of:
A. pancreatitis.
B. appendicitis.
C. cholecystitis.
D. gastroenteritis.
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B
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Which of the following statements regarding gastrointestinal bleeding is correct?
A. In the majority of cases, bleeding within the gastrointestinal tract occurs acutely and is severe.
B. Bleeding within the gastrointestinal tract is a symptom of another disease, not a disease itself.
C. Lower gastrointestinal bleeding results from conditions such as Mallory-Weiss syndrome.
D. Chronic bleeding within the gastrointestinal tract is usually more severe than bleeding that occurs acutely.
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B
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Esophageal varices MOST commonly occur in patients who:
A. drink a lot of alcohol.
B. have severe diabetes.
C. have a history of esophagitis.
D. have weak immune systems.
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A
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Which of the following conditions is more common in women than in men?
A. cystitis
B. hepatitis
C. pancreatitis
D. cholecystitis
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A
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Chronic renal failure is a condition that:
A. can be reversed with prompt treatment.
B. occurs from conditions such as dehydration.
C. is often caused by hypertension or diabetes.
D. causes dehydration from excessive urination.
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C
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A strangulated hernia is one that:
A. spontaneously reduces without any surgical intervention.
B. can be pushed back into the body cavity to which it belongs.
C. is reducible if surgical intervention occurs within 2 hours.
D. loses its blood supply due to compression by local tissues.
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D
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You are dispatched to an apartment complex for a young male with abdominal pain. Your priority upon arriving at the scene should be to:
A. quickly gain access to the patient.
B. notify the dispatcher of your arrival.
C. assess the scene for potential hazards.
D. place a paramedic ambulance on standby.
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C
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Most patients with abdominal pain prefer to:
A. lie on their side with their knees drawn into the abdomen.
B. sit in a semi-Fowler position with their knees slightly bent.
C. lie in a supine position with their knees in a flexed position.
D. sit fully upright because it helps relax the abdominal muscles.
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A
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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. protect her airway from aspiration.
B. keep her supine and elevate her legs.
C. rapidly transport her to the hospital.
D. give her high-flow supplemental oxygen.
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A
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Patients with acute abdominal pain should not be given anything to eat or drink because:
A. it will create referred pain and obscure the diagnosis.
B. food will rapidly travel through the digestive system.
C. substances in the stomach increase the risk of aspiration.
D. digestion prevents accurate auscultation of bowel sounds.
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C
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When assessing a patient with abdominal pain, you should:
A. palpate the abdomen in a clockwise direction beginning with the quadrant after the one the patient indicates is painful.
B. ask the patient to point to the area of pain or tenderness and assess for rebound tenderness over that specific area.
C. visually assess the painful area of the abdomen, but avoid palpation because this could worsen his or her condition.
D. observe for abdominal guarding, which is characterized by sudden relaxation of the abdominal muscles when palpated.
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A
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Elderly patients with abdominal problems may not exhibit the same pain response as younger patients because of:
A. chronic dementia, which inhibits communication.
B. interactions of the numerous medications they take.
C. progressive deterioration of abdominal organ function.
D. age-related deterioration of their sensory systems.
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D
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An important aspect in the treatment of a patient with severe abdominal pain is to:
A. provide emotional support en route to the hospital.
B. administer analgesic medications to alleviate pain.
C. encourage the patient to remain in a supine position.
D. give 100% oxygen only if signs of shock are present.
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A
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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. transport him in a supine position.
B. be alert for signs and symptoms of shock.
C. assess his blood pressure to determine perfusion adequacy.
D. determine the exact location and cause of his pain.
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B
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The MOST important treatment for a patient with severe abdominal pain and signs of shock includes:
A. administering high-flow oxygen.
B. giving oral fluids to maintain perfusion.
C. transporting the patient without delay.
D. positioning the patient on his or her side.
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C
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A 59-year-old male presents with a sudden onset of 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. vigorously palpate the abdomen to establish pain severity.
B. administer oxygen and prepare for immediate transport.
C. place the patient in a sitting position and transport at once.
D. request a paramedic unit to give the patient pain medication.
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B
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You are transporting a 49-year-old male with "tearing" abdominal pain. You are approximately 30 miles away from the closest hospital. During your reassessment, you determine that the patient’s condition has deteriorated significantly. You should:
A. assist his ventilations with a bag-mask device.
B. immediately perform a rapid physical examination.
C. continue transporting and alert the receiving hospital.
D. consider requesting a rendezvous with an ALS unit.
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D
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Which of the following statements regarding dialysis is correct?
A. Acute hypertension is a common adverse effect of dialysis.
B. Hemodialysis is effective but carries a high risk of peritonitis.
C. Patients who miss a dialysis treatment often present with weakness.
D. The purpose of dialysis is to help the kidneys retain salt and water.
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C
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You respond to the residence of a 70-year-old male who complains of weakness and severe shortness of breath. His wife tells you that he is a dialysis patient, but has missed his last two treatments. After applying high-flow oxygen, you auscultate his lungs and hear diffuse rhonchi. The patient is conscious, but appears confused. His blood pressure is 98/54 mm Hg, his pulse rate is 120 beats/min and irregular, and his respirations are 24 breaths/min and labored. You should:
A. leave him in a sitting position, keep him warm, and prepare for immediate transport.
B. place him in a supine position, elevate his lower extremities, and transport at once.
C. treat for shock and request a paramedic unit to respond to the scene and assist you.
D. perform a detailed secondary assessment and then transport him to a dialysis center.
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A
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