Cardiology, Airway, and Ventilation Flashcards

You are performing abdominal thrust on a patient who becomes unresponsive. The very first thing you should do is:

Answer: activate the emergency response system.

If a patient receiving abdominal thrusts for a foreign body airway obstruction becomes unresponsive, the very first action is to activate the emergency response system (e.g., call 911/EMS). This is because the patient's condition has worsened significantly, indicating a medical emergency requiring advanced care. After activating EMS, the rescuer should then begin CPR, starting with chest compressions.

Gastric inflation can cause all of the following conditions, except:

Answer: emphysema.

Gastric inflation, which occurs when air enters the stomach during ventilations, can lead to several complications like aspiration (inhaling stomach contents), vomiting, and even pneumonia if aspiration occurs. However, emphysema is a chronic lung disease characterized by damage to the alveoli, and it is not a direct consequence or condition caused by acute gastric inflation during resuscitation efforts.

You are on the scene of a 77-year-old female who is not breathing. This condition is best described as:

Answer: apnea.

Apnea is the medical term used to describe the absence of breathing. In the scenario of a 77-year-old female who is not breathing, "apnea" accurately and precisely describes her condition. Other options like anemia (lack of red blood cells), aphasia (difficulty with speech), and anoxia (absence of oxygen) do not describe the cessation of breathing itself.

The structure that prevents food or liquid from entering the larynx is called the:

Answer: epiglottis

The epiglottis is a leaf-shaped flap of cartilage located at the base of the tongue, which covers the opening of the larynx (voice box) during swallowing. Its primary function is to prevent food or liquid from entering the trachea (windpipe) and lungs, directing it instead into the esophagus. This protective mechanism is crucial for preventing aspiration into the respiratory tract.

All of the following are upper airway structures, except the:

Answer: alveoli

The upper airway structures include the nasopharynx, oropharynx, larynx, and epiglottis, all of which are involved in conducting air to the lungs. The alveoli, however, are tiny air sacs located deep within the lungs, specifically in the lower respiratory tract. Their primary function is gas exchange, making them a part of the lower airway, not the upper airway.

At what point is a child considered an adult in relation to CPR?

Answer: After the onset of puberty

In the context of CPR guidelines, a child is considered an adult once they show signs of puberty, such as the development of an Adam's apple in males or breast development in females. This distinction is important because adult CPR guidelines, including compression depth and ratios, are then applied due to the patient's increased body size and physiological maturity.

The risk of infection to the rescuer while performing CPR is:

Answer: extremely low.

The risk of infection to a rescuer while performing CPR, particularly from diseases like HIV or Hepatitis B, is considered extremely low. While universal precautions should always be followed, direct transmission during CPR is rare, especially with the use of barrier devices like pocket masks. Rescuers should not hesitate to perform CPR due to fear of infection.

The ratio for compressions to breaths for a child with just one rescuer is:

Answer: 30 to 2

For a single rescuer performing CPR on a child, the recommended compression-to-ventilation ratio is 30 compressions to 2 breaths. This ratio is consistent with adult single-rescuer CPR and ensures a balance between maintaining blood flow through compressions and providing oxygen through ventilations. It allows for efficient delivery of both components of CPR.

Compressions should be performed at a rate of:

Answer: at least 100/min

Effective chest compressions are a critical component of CPR, and they must be delivered at a rate of at least 100 compressions per minute, with a target range of 100-120 compressions per minute. This rate is essential to maintain adequate blood flow to the brain and vital organs during cardiac arrest. Compressions delivered too slowly are less effective and reduce the patient's chances of survival.

Which of the following interventions would the EMR most likely perform at the scene of a cardiac arrest?

Answer: CPR and defibrillation

Emergency Medical Responders (EMRs) are trained and equipped to perform basic life support interventions. In a cardiac arrest scenario, their primary roles include initiating high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and using an automated external defibrillator (AED) for defibrillation. More advanced interventions like medication administration, endotracheal intubation, or IV line initiation are typically performed by higher-level providers like paramedics.

A 60-year-old man is found sitting in his car alongside the road. There is no apparent damage to his vehicle. Your assessment reveals that the man is in cardiac arrest. You should:

Answer: grasp the patient under his arms, cradle his head between your arms, and remove him from the vehicle.

When a patient in cardiac arrest is found in a vehicle, rapid extrication is necessary to allow for effective CPR on a firm, flat surface. The correct technique involves grasping the patient under their arms, cradling their head between your arms to provide some cervical spine support, and carefully removing them from the vehicle. This method prioritizes getting the patient to a position where CPR can be performed while minimizing potential injury.