Shared Flashcard Set

Details

Chapters 25-28
Chapters 25-28
129
Medical
Professional
04/07/2013
Click here to study/print these flashcards.

Create your own flash cards! Sign up here.

Additional Medical Flashcards

 

 

Cards

Term
Which of the following MOST accurately describes an acute abdomen?
 Definition
Sudden onset of abdominal pain that indicates peritoneal irritation.
Term
Shortly following a meal, a 49-year-old female complains of acute pain to the right upper abdominal quadrant with referred pain to her right shoulder. This is MOST suggestive of acute:
 Definition
cholecystitis.
Term
Peritonitis is almost always associated with nausea and vomiting because:
 Definition
absent peristalsis prevents movement of food through the GI tract.
Term
A 27-year-old male complains of an acute onset of abdominal pain. He is found curled in a fetal position with his right knee drawn up into his abdomen. This position is MOST commonly seen in patients with acute:
 Definition
appendicitis.
Term
Common signs and symptoms associated with an acute abdomen include which of the following?
 Definition
Rapid and shallow breathing
Term
A young female complains of acute pain located in the left lower quadrant of the abdomen. When palpating her abdomen for pain, tenderness, and rigidity, you should FIRST palpate the:
 Definition
right upper quadrant.
Term
A 69-year-old male with a history of hypertension and insulin-dependent diabetes complains of an acute onset of tearing pain in the lower quadrants of his abdomen that radiates to the back. His blood pressure is 90/50 mm Hg, pulse is 110 beats/min and thready, and respirations are 24 breaths/min and shallow. This clinical presentation is MOST indicative of a/an:
 Definition
ruptured or dissecting aortic aneurysm.
Term
A 19-year-old female presents with severe pain to the left lower quadrant of her abdomen. She is restless, tachypneic, and tachycardic. When you inquire about her last menstrual period, she tells you that it was approximately 2 months ago. This patient is MOST likely experiencing:
 Definition
a ruptured ectopic pregnancy.
Term
You are treating a 50-year-old female with severe abdominal pain. She is conscious but restless, and is begging you for pain medication. Her blood pressure is 136/88 mm Hg, pulse is 120 beats/min and strong, and respirations are 24 breaths/min with adequate tidal volume. After administering 100% oxygen, you should:
 Definition
start two large-bore IVs and set them to keep the vein open.
Term
Appropriate management for a conscious adult patient with acute abdominal pain, a BP of 80/50 mm Hg, and a pulse rate of 120 beats/min includes:
 Definition
20 mL/kg IV fluid boluses to maintain perfusion.
Term
The ____________ is a solid organ.
 Definition
ovary
Term
A young female with severe lower abdominal pain presents with a decreased level of consciousness, tachypnea, and a reduced tidal volume. Her blood pressure is 88/48 mm Hg and her pulse is 130 beats/min and weak. You should:
 Definition
assist ventilations with a BVM device and 100% oxygen.
Term
An anorexic person is one who:
 Definition
has lost his or her appetite.
Term
A 56-year-old male complains of pain to the right upper quadrant of his abdomen and pain to his right shoulder; however, he denies pain in between his abdomen and shoulder. This is characteristic of:
 Definition
referred pain.
Term
Signs and symptoms that are MOST commonly associated with an acute abdomen include:
 Definition
nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
Term
During your assessment of a 39-year-old female with acute abdominal pain, you note the presence of diffuse pain while palpating her abdomen. With this information, you:
 Definition
cannot identify the underlying organ that is causing the pain.
Term
A 67-year-old male complains of acute abdominal pain and hematemesis. During your assessment, you note pain to palpation of his left upper quadrant; his vital signs are suggestive of shock. Which of the following conditions should you suspect?
 Definition
Bleeding peptic ulcer
Term
When assessing a patient with acute atraumatic abdominal pain, you should:
 Definition
place the patient supine with his or her knees flexed.
Term
Disease or inflammation of organs that lie behind or beneath the abdominal cavity can cause signs of peritonitis because the:
 Definition
parietal peritoneum is richly supplied with very sensitive nerves.
Term
Which of the following statements regarding the geriatric patient with an acute abdomen is correct?
 Definition
Severe abdominal organ dysfunction may present with mild or absent pain.
Term
A 33-year-old female complains of acute intense pain in both lower abdominal quadrants. She is conscious and alert, tachycardic, and has a fever of 102.5ºF. You should suspect:
 Definition
pelvic inflammatory disease.
Term
It is important to avoid giving anything by mouth to a patient with acute abdominal pain because:
 Definition
the stomach must be empty prior to surgical intervention.
Term
The _____________ is a retroperitoneal abdominal organ.
 Definition
kidney
Term
A 38-year-old male with an inguinal hernia complains of increased pain and nausea. He tells you that he has been able to reduce the hernia himself in the past, but it will not reduce today. This patient is at GREATEST risk for:
 Definition
strangulation of the bowel.
Term
Hypovolemic shock caused by an atraumatic acute abdomen is usually the result of:
 Definition
abnormal fluid shifts from the bloodstream into the body tissues.
Term
The body loses heat to the environment through a process called:
 Definition
thermolysis.
Term
A young male is wearing lightweight clothing and is standing outside in windy winter weather. He is losing heat to the environment mostly by:
 Definition
convection.
Term
Because heat always travels from a warm object to a cooler one, a person standing in a cold room will lose heat by:
 Definition
radiation.
Term
An individual is considered to be hypothermic when his or her core body temperature falls below:
 Definition
95°F.
Term
When assessing the skin temperature of a patient with a cold-related emergency, you should feel the skin closest to the core of the body because:
 Definition
the patient may be hemodynamically stable even if his or her extremities are cold.
Term
Which of the following clinical signs would indicate a core body temperature of between 89°F and 92°F?
 Definition
Bradycardia
Term
Mild hypothermia is characterized by:
 Definition
shivering, tachypnea, and peripheral vascular constriction.
Term
During your initial assessment of a 33-year-old male with severe hypothermia, you find that he is unresponsive and breathing agonally. After giving two rescue breaths, you should:
 Definition
assess his carotid pulse for 30 to 45 seconds.
Term
Patients with hypothermia often become dehydrated due to:
 Definition
increased excretion of urine.
Term
Prior to initiating CPR on an apneic, hypothermic patient, you should:
 Definition
assess the carotid pulse for up to 45 seconds.
Term
When transporting a moderately hypothermic patient, you must avoid unnecessary bumps in the road. Not doing so may result in:
 Definition
a cardiac arrhythmia.
Term
You should assess a patient with generalized hypothermia for local cold injuries to the extremities because:
 Definition
blood is shunted away from the extremities.
Term
You are dispatched to a ski resort for a 21-year-old female with a local cold injury. Upon making contact with the patient and determining that she is conscious and breathing, you should:
 Definition
place her in the prewarmed ambulance.
Term
A frostbitten extremity should never be rewarmed if:
 Definition
there is a chance that it may refreeze.
Term
Hyperthermia occurs when:
 Definition
inadequate thermolysis causes reduced heat loss.
Term
Patients with diabetes are especially prone to heat illnesses because:
 Definition
autonomic neuropathy interferes with vasodilation.
Term
Heat cramps are typically the result of prolonged exposure to a hot environment, resulting in:
 Definition
electrolyte depletion and severe muscle spasms.
Term
The MOST effective treatment for a nauseated patient with heat exhaustion includes:
 Definition
oxygen, 20 mL/kg saline boluses, and transport.
Term
Heatstroke occurs when the:
 Definition
body is subjected to more heat than it can remove.
Term
When rapidly cooling a semiconscious patient with heatstroke, you must stop the cooling process if the patient:
 Definition
begins to shiver.
Term
Patients who are struck by lightning rarely sustain full-thickness burns because:
 Definition
the duration of the lightning strike is short.
Term
Signs of an impending lightning strike include all of the following, EXCEPT:
 Definition
sudden tachycardia.
Term
Near-drowning is MOST accurately defined as:
 Definition
recovery that lasts for at least 24 hours following submersion in water.
Term
How could the mammalian diving reflex protect the hypothermic patient who was submerged in water?
 Definition
It slows the metabolic rate and decreases the body's oxygen demand.
Term
Palpating for a pulse in a near-drowning victim may be difficult to assess because:
 Definition
the peripheral vessels are constricted and cardiac output is low.
Term
“Breath-holding syncope” commonly occurs when a swimmer:
 Definition
breathes deeply and rapidly before entering the water.
Term
Internal heat production is called:
 Definition
thermogenesis.
Term
When a warm hand touches a cold object, heat passes directly from the body to the colder object. This is an example of:
 Definition
conduction.
Term
Shivering, which is a natural response of the body to cold temperatures, serves to:
 Definition
increase the rate of cellular metabolism.
Term
When the core body temperature falls below 95°F, the patient's:
 Definition
ability to regulate body temperature is lost.
Term
Which of the following individuals would be at GREATEST risk for developing hypothermia?
 Definition
A 68-year-old female with a generalized infection
Term
Which of the following physiologic abnormalities occur as a result of hypothermia?
 Definition
Decreased blood-clotting
Term
A 40-year-old female, who is conscious and alert with mild hypothermia, should receive active external rewarming. This involves:
 Definition
wrapping her in blankets and applying heat packs to her groin.
Term
General management for a moderately hypothermic patient with a decreased level of consciousness includes all of the following, EXCEPT:
 Definition
warmed fluids by mouth.
Term
Which of the following patients is LEAST prone to a local cold injury?
 Definition
A 45-year-old male with hypertension
Term
A frostbitten extremity is usually:
 Definition
hard and waxy.
Term
Gangrene and subsequent amputation of a frostbitten extremity will MOST likely occur if it:
 Definition
is rewarmed and then refreezes.
Term
The two MOST effective mechanisms for thermolysis are:
 Definition
sweating and peripheral vasodilation.
Term
When assessing a patient with a heat-related emergency, which of the following clinical signs would indicate thermolytic inadequacy?
 Definition
Altered mental status
Term
You are treating a 40-year-old female, who is experiencing severe heat cramps. You have moved her to a cooler environment, applied oxygen, and are giving her Gatorade to drink. When you reassess her, you find that her condition has not improved. You should:
 Definition
start an IV of normal saline and transport her.
Term
A 55-year-old female presents with signs of dehydration, generalized weakness, and cool, clammy skin. She is conscious and alert and has an oral temperature of 101.5°F. This clinical presentation is MOST consistent with:
 Definition
heat exhaustion.
Term
Which of the following patients is MOST likely experiencing heatstroke?
 Definition
A 31-year-old male with hot and moist skin, tachycardia, and confusion
Term
You are dispatched to the residence of an 80-year-old female with a possible heat-related emergency. Your assessment reveals that she is semiconscious, has hot and dry skin, and signs of severe dehydration. You should:
 Definition
move her to a cooler environment.
Term
You are dispatched to a local golf course, where 3 people were struck by lightning. After ensuring your own safety, you begin triaging the patients. The first patient is conscious and has an apparent closed femur fracture. The second patient is conscious, confused, and complaining of hearing loss. The third patient is unconscious, pulseless, and apneic. You should focus your resuscitative efforts on the cardiac arrest patient because:
 Definition
the other patients are less likely to develop cardiac arrest.
Term
Routine treatment for a semiconscious patient who was struck by lightning includes all of the following, EXCEPT:
 Definition
prophylactic antiarrhythmics.
Term
Initially, following submersion in fresh water, the lungs are not inundated with fluid because:
 Definition
the larynx spasms and protects the airway.
Term
A 24-year-old male was pulled from the water by his friends. When you arrive at the scene, you determine that he is unresponsive, pulseless, and apneic. Management for this patient should include all of the following, EXCEPT:
 Definition
subdiaphragmatic thrusts.
Term
A young female is found floating face-down in a lake. There were no witnesses to the event. Prior to removing her from the water, you must first:
 Definition
rotate the patient into a supine position and protect her spine.
Term
Behavior is MOST accurately defined as:
 Definition
how a person responds to his or her environment.
Term
Which of the following situations is NOT an example of a patient with a mental illness?
 Definition
A 55-year-old male who experiences a panic attack after being diagnosed with cancer.
Term
Which of the following conditions would be LEAST likely to cause an alteration in behavior?
 Definition
Hypertension
Term
When assessing a patient with bizarre behavior, it is important to ensure your own safety and then:
 Definition
consider that a medical illness may be an underlying etiology.
Term
Alzheimer's disease is an example of a/an:
 Definition
organic psychiatric disorder.
Term
General safety guidelines to follow when caring for a patient with a behavioral emergency include all of the following, EXCEPT:
 Definition
spending as little time as possible at the scene.
Term
Which of the following findings is LEAST indicative of a potential for violence?
 Definition
Large physical body size
Term
The two goals to achieve when assessing a patient with a behavioral emergency are to:
 Definition
identify life-threats and reduce the stress of the situation.
Term
When caring for a patient with a behavioral crisis, you should ensure your own safety and then:
 Definition
identify any life-threatening conditions.
Term
The single most significant factor that contributes to suicide is:
 Definition
significant depression.
Term
Which of the following would be the MOST important parameter(s) to assess in a patient with a behavioral emergency?
 Definition
Blood glucose level
Term
To minimize the risk of legal implications when managing an emotionally disturbed 33-year-old male, you should:
 Definition
gain his confidence so that he consents to care.
Term
Which of the following conditions would be the LEAST likely cause of mental incapacitation?
 Definition
Chronic hyperthyroidism
Term
As an EMT-I, you may legally restrain a patient if he or she:
 Definition
presents harm to you, your partner, or bystanders.
Term
A violent patient should never be restrained in a prone position because:
 Definition
you cannot effectively monitor the patient's airway.
Term
When restraining a violent patient, it is important to:
 Definition
take the appropriate body substance isolation precautions.
Term
A behavioral crisis occurs when:
 Definition
a reaction to an event interferes with daily living activities.
Term
An individual who poses a threat to the safety of his or her family, friends, or the EMT-I, is experiencing a/an:
 Definition
psychiatric emergency.
Term
Which of the following conditions or situations would result in a psychiatric emergency of an organic etiology?
 Definition
Hypoglycemia
Term
You are dispatched to an apartment complex for a young male experiencing an “emotional problem”. Law enforcement is at the scene when you arrive. The MOST appropriate action for you to take is to:
 Definition
confer with a police officer before making patient contact.
Term
When caring for a patient with a behavioral emergency, it is important for you to:
 Definition
let the patient tell you what happened in his or her own words.
Term
When interviewing a patient with an emotional crisis, you repeat the patient's words back to him or her, and encourage him or her to expand on these thoughts. This is an example of:
 Definition
reflective listening.
Term
While assessing a patient with an apparent behavioral crisis, he tells you that he sees a pink elephant in the corner of the room. This is an example of a/an:
 Definition
visual hallucination.
Term
When performing an initial assessment of a 40-year-old male who is agitated and is displaying bizarre behavior, you should:
 Definition
limit the number of personnel around the patient.
Term
You are dispatched to a residence for an elderly female with “mental status changes”. During your assessment of the patient, you should first:
 Definition
determine the patient's baseline mental status.
Term
Which of the following is LEAST suggestive of a person's intent to commit suicide?
 Definition
Taking time away from a job
Term
Violent or dangerous individuals who do not require medical care should be:
 Definition
taken into police custody.
Term
Which of the following emotionally disturbed patients could legally refuse EMS treatment and transport?
 Definition
A 77-year-old male who is severely depressed over the death of his wife
Term
The MOST reliable sign of a potentially violent patient is:
 Definition
physical activity.
Term
Which of the following statements regarding the Fallopian tubes is correct?
 Definition
They extend from the uterus and terminate at the ovary.
Term
The _____________ is the outermost cavity of a woman's reproductive system and forms the lower portion of the birth canal.
 Definition
vagina
Term
Estrogen and progesterone are secreted by the:
 Definition
corpus luteum.
Term
Common signs and symptoms associated with menstruation include all of the following, EXCEPT:
 Definition
60 mL to 100 mL of blood loss.
Term
Once you have determined that a female patient with abdominal pain is likely experiencing a gynecological problem, your MOST appropriate action should be to:
 Definition
focus your questioning on the patient's menstrual cycle.
Term
During your assessment of a 35-year-old female with acute abdominal pain, you determine that she is gravida-2 and para-1. This means that she has been:
 Definition
pregnant twice and has delivered one viable baby.
Term
Which of the following general statements regarding pregnancy is correct?
 Definition
Menstrual periods can continue even if a woman is pregnant.
Term
When assessing and treating a female patient with a sexually-transmitted disease, it is important to:
 Definition
treat the patient without moral judgment.
Term
Approximately 1 week following her menstrual period, a 33-year-old female complains of bilateral lower abdominal quadrant pain, vaginal discharge, and fever. This clinical presentation is MOST consistent with:
 Definition
pelvic inflammatory disease.
Term
Which of the following clinical or historical findings would be the LEAST likely to increase a woman's risk of an ectopic pregnancy?
 Definition
Two spontaneous abortions
Term
A 26-year-old female, who is at the end of her first trimester of pregnancy, complains of vaginal bleeding. She denies abdominal pain, and states that her last menstrual cycle was approximately 2 months ago. She is conscious and alert and her vital signs are stable. You should be MOST suspicious for:
 Definition
spontaneous abortion.
Term
A 49-year-old female was the victim of a sexual assault. Your assessment reveals that she is conscious and alert and is breathing adequately. There is no gross external bleeding and her vital signs are stable. You should:
 Definition
discourage her from showering or douching.
Term
Prehospital documentation of a sexual assault case should:
 Definition
be objective, factual, and detailed.
Term
A 52-year-old female was brutally assaulted by several perpetrators. Your assessment reveals that she is semiconscious, is breathing shallowly, and has a rapid heart rate. You note that there is blood in the region of her vagina. Appropriate management for this patient includes:
 Definition
assisted ventilations, an absorbent pad over her vagina, and a rapid trauma assessment.
Term
When collecting potential evidence at the scene of a sexual assault, you should place any items in paper bags because:
 Definition
plastic bags may develop condensation and could destroy the evidence.
Term
The uppermost portion of the uterus is called the:
 Definition
fundus.
Term
Functions of the ovaries include:
 Definition
production of oocytes, estrogen, and progesterone.
Term
Pregnancy hormones cause the _____________ of the uterus to thicken in preparation for implantation of a fertilized egg.
 Definition
endometrium
Term
Acute abdominal pain in a female of childbearing age should be assumed to be:
 Definition
a ruptured ectopic pregnancy.
Term
When palpating the abdomen of a female in pain, you should:
 Definition
examine the area farthest away from the pain first.
Term
A 31-year-old female complains of heavy vaginal bleeding and generalized weakness. She is conscious and alert; however, her blood pressure is 88/56 mm Hg and her pulse is 120 beats/min and weak. You should apply 100% oxygen and then:
 Definition
place absorbent dressings over the vagina and administer 20 mL/kg boluses of an isotonic crystalloid to maintain perfusion.
Term
A 35-year-old female complains of an acute onset of pain to her left lower abdominal quadrant. During your assessment, the patient tells you that the pain moves around to her back and that she is experiencing a small amount of vaginal bleeding. This patient is MOST likely experiencing
 Definition
a ruptured ovarian cyst.
Term
Acute abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding during the 23rd week of pregnancy could be caused by any of the following, EXCEPT:
 Definition
ectopic pregnancy.
Term
A 25-year-old unrestrained female, who is in the third trimester of pregnancy, was involved in a motor-vehicle crash. She complains of severe, tearing abdominal pain. She is experiencing dark red vaginal bleeding, and is exhibiting signs of shock. On the basis of the mechanism of injury and her clinical presentation, you should be MOST suspicious for:
 Definition
abruptio placenta.
Term
You are dispatched to a residence for a young female who was sexually assaulted when a perpetrator broke into her home. She is conscious and alert and has multiple abrasions and bruises to her face and arms. As you begin to assess her, she tells you that she does not want to go to the hospital. You should:
 Definition
explain the seriousness of the situation but allow her to refuse if she wishes.
Term
When assessing a woman who has been sexually assaulted, it is important to:
 Definition
have a female EMT-I present if possible.
Term
A 21-year-old female was sexually assaulted with a glass bottle. Your assessment reveals that she is semiconscious with shallow breathing. The bottle is still inside her vagina. You should:
 Definition
assist ventilations, perform a rapid trauma assessment, and stabilize the bottle in place.
Supporting users have an ad free experience!