EMT Airways and Breathing Practice Test 2 — Questions and Answers

Question 1: A blue or greyish coloration of the skin caused by lack of oxygen in the blood is called?

Suffocation
Cyanosis (Correct answer)
Tinting
None of the above

Correct answer: Cyanosis

Cyanosis is a bluish or grayish discoloration of the skin, mucous membranes, and nail beds. It is caused by a reduced amount of oxygenated hemoglobin in the blood, indicating inadequate oxygenation or poor circulation. This visible sign is a critical indicator of respiratory or circulatory compromise and requires immediate attention.

Question 2: You are performing rescue breaths using an Ambu bag attached to 100% O2. After several breaths you notice the patients O2 saturation has dropped significantly. What should you do next?

Increase the rate of respirations
Reposition the patient's head (Correct answer)
Change the seal on the mask
Remove the oral airway from the patients mouth

Correct answer: Reposition the patient's head

When performing rescue breaths with a bag-mask device, a sudden drop in oxygen saturation often indicates an ineffective seal or, more commonly, an obstructed airway. Repositioning the patient's head using a head-tilt chin-lift or jaw-thrust maneuver is the most immediate and effective step to open the airway and ensure proper ventilation, allowing air to reach the lungs.

Question 3: What is the proper amount of air that should be injected to the cuff of an Endo Tracheal Tube?

1 cc
25 cc
10 cc (Correct answer)
100 cc

Correct answer: 10 cc

The cuff of an endotracheal tube is inflated to create a seal in the trachea, preventing air leakage and aspiration. While the exact volume can vary slightly based on tube size and patient anatomy, approximately 10 cc of air is a common starting point to achieve an adequate seal without over-inflating, which could cause tracheal damage. The goal is to inflate just enough to prevent a leak.

Question 4: The space between the base of the tongue and the epiglottis is called?

Tonsils
Cricoid
Larynx
Vallecula (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Vallecula

The vallecula is an anatomical landmark located in the oropharynx, specifically the space or 'pocket' between the base of the tongue and the epiglottis. This space is a crucial reference point during direct laryngoscopy, as the tip of a straight laryngoscope blade is often inserted into the vallecula to indirectly lift the epiglottis and visualize the vocal cords.

Question 5: What condition is characterized by gasping, labored breathing, and strange vocalizations?

Agonal Breaths (Correct answer)
Stridor
Obstructed Airway
Wheezing

Correct answer: Agonal Breaths

Agonal breaths are an abnormal pattern of breathing characterized by gasping, labored, and often noisy respirations, sometimes accompanied by strange vocalizations. These breaths are a sign of severe brain anoxia and impending respiratory or cardiac arrest, and they are not effective for ventilation. They indicate a critical medical emergency requiring immediate intervention.

Question 6: What is the maximum amount of time that may pass while attempting an intubation?

10 Seconds
30 Seconds (Correct answer)
1 minute
10 Minutes

Correct answer: 30 Seconds

Each attempt at endotracheal intubation should be limited to a maximum of 30 seconds. Prolonged intubation attempts can lead to significant hypoxia and bradycardia, especially in critically ill patients. If intubation is unsuccessful within 30 seconds, the clinician should stop, ventilate the patient with a bag-mask device, and reoxygenate before attempting again.

Question 7: What condition is characterized by a high pitched sound resulting from turbulent air flow in the upper airway? It may be inspiratory, expiratory or present on both inspiration and expiration.

Respiratory Arrest
Wheezing
Stridor (Correct answer)
Asthma

Correct answer: Stridor

Stridor is a harsh, high-pitched respiratory sound resulting from turbulent airflow through a partially obstructed upper airway, typically in the larynx or trachea. It can occur during inspiration, expiration, or both, and is a serious sign indicating significant airway narrowing, often due to swelling, foreign body aspiration, or infection.

Question 8: The inability to move enough air required for adequate perfusion is known as what?

Respiratory Arrest
Respiratory Failure (Correct answer)
Cardiac Failure
Pleurisy

Correct answer: Respiratory Failure

Respiratory failure is a life-threatening condition where the respiratory system can no longer adequately exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide, leading to insufficient oxygenation of the blood (hypoxemia) or inadequate removal of carbon dioxide (hypercapnia). This inability to move enough air for adequate perfusion means the body's cells are not receiving the oxygen they need to function.

Question 9: Which is NOT a correct technique for confirming correct ET Tube placement?

Absent sounds on auscultation of the epigastrium .
Visualizing rise and fall of the chest. (Correct answer)
Clear and equal bilateral breath sounds on auscultation of the chest.
Use of a commercial CO2 detection device

Correct answer: Visualizing rise and fall of the chest.

While visualizing chest rise and fall is an initial indicator, it is not a definitive confirmation of correct ET tube placement, as the chest can rise with esophageal intubation. Definitive confirmation requires multiple methods, including auscultation for absent epigastric sounds and clear bilateral breath sounds, and most importantly, the use of a commercial CO2 detection device (capnography) to confirm CO2 exhalation from the lungs.

Question 10: Two large tubes that bring air to and from the lungs are known as what?

Bronchi (Correct answer)
Larynx
Diaphragm
Ronchi

Correct answer: Bronchi

The trachea, or windpipe, branches into two main tubes called the primary bronchi (singular: bronchus). These two large tubes then enter the lungs, where they further divide into smaller bronchi and bronchioles, ultimately leading to the alveoli for gas exchange. They are the primary conduits for air movement into and out of the lungs.

Question 11: What term refers to the expansion of the stomach caused by excessive ventilation pressures, which causes excess air to enter the stomach instead of the lungs?

Inflation
Gastric Distention (Correct answer)
Gastric Bypass
Evisceration

Correct answer: Gastric Distention

Gastric distention occurs when excessive ventilation pressures or improper technique during positive pressure ventilation (e.g., bag-mask ventilation) cause air to enter the stomach instead of the lungs. This can lead to regurgitation, aspiration, and can also impede diaphragmatic movement, making effective ventilation more difficult. It is a common complication of aggressive or poorly performed ventilations.

Question 12: Which of the following is NOT a sign of adequate breathing?

Air moving in and out of the nose and mouth.
Equal expansion of both sides of the chest
Breathing limited to abdominal muscles. (Correct answer)
Absence of blue / grey skin coloration

Correct answer: Breathing limited to abdominal muscles.

Adequate breathing involves a normal rate, rhythm, and depth, with equal chest expansion and minimal accessory muscle use. Breathing limited primarily to abdominal muscles, especially in adults, can indicate respiratory distress or fatigue. This suggests the patient is relying on accessory muscles rather than normal diaphragmatic and intercostal muscle function, which points to inadequate ventilation.

Question 13: Cyanosis can be checked by observing the patient's _______?

Tongue
Earlobes
Nail beds (Correct answer)
All of the above

Correct answer: Nail beds

Cyanosis, the bluish discoloration indicating poor oxygenation, is often most easily observed in areas where capillaries are close to the surface and skin is thin. The nail beds, lips, and mucous membranes (like inside the mouth or conjunctiva of the eyes) are common and reliable sites to check for the presence of cyanosis. Observing these areas helps assess a patient's oxygenation status.

Question 14: An oral and nasal airway should be:

Cleaned well for reuse after the run
Inserted in all critically injured patients
Used to keep the tongue from blocking the airway (Correct answer)
Used in order to prevent the need for suctioning

Correct answer: Used to keep the tongue from blocking the airway

Oropharyngeal (OPA) and nasopharyngeal (NPA) airways are adjuncts used to maintain an open airway in unconscious or semi-conscious patients. Their primary function is to prevent the tongue, which is the most common cause of airway obstruction in an unresponsive patient, from falling back and blocking the pharynx. They help create a clear passage for air.

Question 15: Which medication that will open bronchioles and increase effectiveness of breathing is typically used to treat a patient with shortness of breath?

Bronchodilators (Correct answer)
Bronchoconstrictors
Anti-Inflammatory
Pneumo-dilator

Correct answer: Bronchodilators

Bronchodilators are medications that relax the smooth muscles surrounding the bronchioles, causing them to widen or 'dilate.' This action reduces airway resistance and improves airflow, making breathing easier and more effective. They are typically used to treat conditions like asthma or COPD where bronchoconstriction is a primary issue causing shortness of breath.

EMT Airways and Breathing Practice Test 2

A blue or greyish coloration of the skin caused by lack of oxygen in the blood is called?