Dyspnea is MOST accurately defined as: |
A. shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. |
In what area of the lungs does respiration occur? |
A. alveoli |
The two processes that occur during respiration are: |
B. inspiration and expiration. |
In order for efficient pulmonary gas exchange to occur: |
D. oxygen and carbon dioxide must be able to freely diffuse across the alveolar-capillary membrane. |
In a healthy individual, the brain stem stimulates breathing on the basis of: |
C. increased carbon dioxide levels. |
When the level of arterial carbon dioxide rises above normal: |
B. respirations increase in rate and depth. |
Which of the following is MOST characteristic of adequate breathing? |
C. 24 breaths/min with bilaterally equal breath sounds and pink skin |
An alert patient presents with a regular pattern of inhalation and exhalation and breath sounds that are clear and equal on both sides of the chest. These findings are consistent with: |
B. adequate air exchange. |
Which of the following statements regarding the hypoxic drive is MOST correct? |
A. The hypoxic drive stimulates a person to breathe on the basis of low oxygen levels. |
When administering supplemental oxygen to a hypoxemic patient with a chronic lung disease, you should: |
B. adjust the flow rate accordingly until you see symptom improvement, but be prepared to assist his or her ventilations. |
Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (PND), rales, and dependent edema are clinical indicators of: |
D. congestive heart failure. |
Which of the following conditions would LEAST likely result in hypoxia? |
B. severe anxiety |
Which of the following statements regarding severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is correct? |
D. SARS is a viral infection that often begins with flulike symptoms. |
Acute pulmonary edema would MOST likely develop as the result of: |
C. toxic chemical inhalation. |
Weakening of the airway in patients with chronic bronchitis is the result of: |
A. destruction of protective mechanisms that remove foreign particles. |
The respiratory distress that accompanies emphysema is caused by: |
B. chronic stretching of the alveolar walls. |
Asthma is caused by a response of the: |
A. immune system. |
At the onset of an acute asthma attack, patients commonly experience difficulty breathing and: |
D. expiratory wheezing. |
Which of the following statements regarding anaphylaxis is correct? |
B. Anaphylaxis is characterized by airway swelling and hypotension. |
A 30-year-old male presents with acute shortness of breath, widespread hives, and facial swelling. He denies any past medical history and takes no medications. During your assessment, you hear wheezing over all lung fields. His blood pressure is 90/50 mm Hg and his heart rate is 110 beats/min. In addition to giving him 100% oxygen, the MOST important treatment for this patient is: |
B. epinephrine. |
A 59-year-old male with a history of emphysema complains of an acute worsening of his dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain following a forceful cough. Your assessment reveals that he has a barrel-shaped chest, unilaterally diminished breath sounds, and tachycardia. What is the MOST likely cause of this patient’s condition? |
D. spontaneous pneumothorax |
A pleural effusion is MOST accurately defined as: |
C. fluid accumulation outside the lung. |
You are dispatched to a residence for a 67-year-old female who was awakened by shortness of breath and sharp chest pain. Her husband tells you that she was recently discharged from the hospital after having hip surgery. Your assessment reveals dried blood around her mouth, facial cyanosis, and an oxygen saturation of 88%. This patient’s presentation is MOST consistent with: |
C. acute pulmonary embolism. |
Hyperventilation could be associated with all of the following, EXCEPT: |
A. a narcotic overdose. |
A young female is unconscious after intentionally ingesting a large amount of aspirin. You will MOST likely find her respirations: |
B. deep and rapid. |
Alkalosis is a condition that occurs when: |
A. blood acidity is reduced by excessive breathing. |
Common signs and symptoms of acute hyperventilation syndrome include: |
D. tachypnea and tingling in the extremities. |
A 60-year-old male presents with acute respiratory distress. He is conscious and alert, has pink and dry skin, and has respirations of 24 breaths/min with adequate depth. Which of the following treatment modalities is MOST appropriate for this patient? |
B. oxygen via nonrebreathing mask and a focused secondary assessment |
You receive a call for a 70-year-old female with respiratory distress. Her husband tells you that she has congestive heart failure; however, he does not think that she has been taking her medications as prescribed. The patient is laboring to breathe, appears tired, and has cyanosis around her lips. You should: |
A. assist her ventilations with a bag-mask device. |
When auscultating the lungs of a patient with respiratory distress, you hear adventitious sounds. This means that the patient has: |
B. abnormal breath sounds. |
When assessing for fluid collection in the lungs during auscultation of lung sounds, you should: |
D. start at the lower lung fields and determine at which level you start hearing clear breath sounds. |
While auscultating an elderly woman’s breath sounds, you hear low-pitched "rattling" sounds at the bases of both of her lungs. With which of the following conditions is this finding MOST consistent? |
C. aspiration pneumonia |
Harsh, high-pitched inspiratory sounds are characteristic of: |
B. stridor. |
A conscious and alert 29-year-old female with a history of asthma complains of difficulty breathing that began after her morning jog. The temperature outside is 40°F (5°C). On exam, you hear bilateral expiratory wheezing. After providing 100% oxygen, you should: |
D. determine if she has been prescribed a beta-agonist inhaler. |
Which of the following statements regarding pulse oximetry is correct? |
C. Pulse oximetry measures the percentage of hemoglobin that is saturated with oxygen, but does not measure the actual hemoglobin content of the blood. |
You are dispatched to an apartment complex where a 21-year-old female has apparently overdosed on several narcotic medications. She is semiconscious and has slow, shallow respirations. You should: |
D. place her in the recovery position and monitor for vomiting. |
Albuterol is a generic name for: |
C. Proventil. |
You are assisting an asthma patient with his prescribed metered-dose inhaler. After the patient takes a deep breath and depresses the inhaler, you should: |
A. instruct him to hold his breath for as long as he comfortably can. |
A 22-year-old female patient is complaining of dyspnea and numbness and tingling in her hands and feet after an argument with her fiancé. Her respirations are 40 breaths/min. You should: |
B. provide reassurance and give oxygen as needed. |
A 62-year-old man with a history of congestive heart failure presents with severe respiratory distress and an oxygen saturation of 82%. When you auscultate his lungs, you hear widespread rales. He is conscious and alert, is able to follow simple commands, and can only speak in two- to three-word sentences at a time. You should: |
B. apply a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device, monitor his blood pressure, and observe him for signs of improvement or deterioration. |
EMT Chapter 13 Review
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