Exam 10: Airway Management, Artificial Ventilation, and Oxygenation

You are by the side of a patient who fell 5 feet from a ladder, landing on a concrete porch with lower back and buttocks. Assessment reveals an intact airway, adequate respirations, rapid radial pulse, and skin that is cool and diaphoretic. The patient complains of lower back and left leg pain. No deformity to the extremity is noted; however, the lower back is tender on palpation. The following vital signs are obtained: pulse 132, respirations 20, blood pressure 102/88 mmHg, and SpO₂ 97% on room air. Regarding oxygen therapy, you would:

Which one of the following tips should you give a new EMT about artificially ventilating a patient with the bag-valve mask?

A patient was eating dinner when he got a piece of food caught in his throat. Although coughing has failed to remove the food, he remains able to move an adequate amount of air into and out of his lungs. A nasal cannula has been applied and vital signs are stable. During transport, the patient suddenly begins to exhibit stridorous respirations. Your immediate action should be to:

You are teaching a group of firefighters who are in class to become Emergency Medical Responders. The topic is artificial ventilation with the bag-valve mask (BVM). Which one of the following points related to using the BVM should you emphasize?

What condition would the EMT associate with a hypoxic respiratory drive?

You are watching an EMT prepare the ambulance for the upcoming shift. In regards to oxygen cylinders and equipment, which one of the following requires immediate intervention?

You have arrived on the scene of an assault in which several people have been injured. You are directed to assist another crew with a patient who has been shot once. As you approach, you are told that the patient is breathing erratically and ineffectively. You observe the patient being ventilated with a bag-valve mask while another EMT maintains her airway with the jaw-thrust maneuver. Based on your observation, where might you expect that this patient was shot?

Which one of the following patients should the EMT recognize as being mildly hypoxic?

A patient with a heavy smoking history and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (emphysema) presents in marked respiratory distress with cyanosis noted to her fingertips. When administering oxygen to this patient, the EMT would remember that:

What disease process would continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) be most beneficial to?

You arrive at work and note that the portable oxygen tanks in the ambulance are now yellow instead of green as during the previous shift. As a knowledgeable EMT you should:

A patient who inhaled superheated steam in an industrial fire is most likely to exhibit which one of the following airway noises?

Which one of the following statements indicates that the EMT has a correct understanding of the use of oxygen in the prehospital setting?

When administering continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) to a patient in respiratory distress, what statement made by the patient would be most concerning?

On arrival at a lethargic patient's side, you note her to have gurgling respirations. The best treatment for this condition is:

Typically, the highest continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) pressure used for therapy is:

You are having a difficult time getting air from the bag-valve mask to pass into the patient's lungs. Your first action should be to:

Which one of the following statements about different sizes of oxygen cylinders is true?

You have been called to a long-term nursing care facility for a 77-year-old female patient with Parkinson's disease. According to the nursing staff, she is more confused than normal and is to be transported to the emergency department for evaluation. Since the patient neither understands nor can answer any of your questions, which one of the following signs provides the best evidence that her breathing is adequate?

While the EMT is inserting an oropharyngeal airway, the patient gags. The EMT should: