Cardiology, Airway, and Ventilation Flashcards

You witnessed a patient become unresponsive after choking. The correct order of procedures is to:

Answer: start chest compressions, open the victim’s mouth, look for an occluding object, then remove it with your fingers.

If a choking patient becomes unresponsive, the protocol shifts to CPR. The first step is to begin chest compressions, as these can help dislodge the obstruction and maintain some blood flow. After each set of compressions (or before rescue breaths), the rescuer should open the victim's mouth, look for a visible foreign object, and if seen, remove it with a finger sweep. Blind finger sweeps are not recommended.

A rescuer’s exhaled air contains approximately:

Answer: 17% oxygen.

A rescuer's exhaled air contains approximately 17% oxygen. While atmospheric air contains about 21% oxygen, the body utilizes some of it during respiration. This 17% oxygen content is sufficient to provide adequate oxygenation to a patient during rescue breathing, making mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-mask ventilation an effective life-saving intervention.

Proper technique when performing the head tilt chin lift includes:

Answer: placing your fingers on the bony part of the lower jaw and bringing the chin forward.

The correct technique for the head tilt-chin lift maneuver involves placing your fingers on the bony part of the lower jaw (mandible) near the chin and gently lifting the chin forward while simultaneously tilting the head back. This action lifts the tongue away from the back of the throat, opening the airway. It's crucial to avoid pressing on the soft tissues under the chin, which could obstruct the airway.

If breathing is inadequate or absent providing rescue breathing can:

Answer: prevent cardiac arrest.

If breathing is inadequate or absent, providing rescue breathing is a critical intervention that can prevent cardiac arrest. Respiratory arrest often precedes cardiac arrest, especially in children. By providing artificial ventilations, the rescuer ensures that oxygen continues to reach the patient's lungs and bloodstream, thereby maintaining oxygenation of vital organs and potentially preventing the heart from stopping.

Which of the following pieces of equipment should be included in the EMR's life support kit?

Answer: Mouth-to-mask ventilation device

An EMR's life support kit should include essential basic airway and ventilation equipment. A mouth-to-mask ventilation device is a standard piece of equipment for EMRs, allowing for safe and effective rescue breathing while providing a barrier between the rescuer and the patient. Manual defibrillators, endotracheal tubes, and mechanical suction devices are typically found in more advanced life support kits used by paramedics or higher-level providers.

While functioning at the scene of a patient in cardiac arrest, you do not initiate CPR because the patient is elderly and you think that he is probably dead. Paramedics arrive and determine that the patient has only been in cardiac arrest for 6 minutes. Which of the following statements regarding this scenario is correct?

Answer: You may be held liable for failure to follow the standard of care.

As an EMR, you have a legal and ethical duty to act when you encounter a patient in cardiac arrest, especially if you are on duty or initiated care. Failing to initiate CPR based on assumptions about the patient's age or perceived prognosis, when there are no valid reasons to withhold resuscitation (like a valid DNR order), constitutes a failure to follow the standard of care. This could lead to legal liability for negligence.

The principle of implied consent assumes that an unconscious patient:

Answer: would wish to receive treatment.

The principle of implied consent assumes that an unconscious, incapacitated, or severely injured patient who is unable to give express consent would, if conscious and able, consent to life-saving medical treatment. This legal doctrine allows EMRs and other healthcare providers to provide necessary care in emergency situations without explicit permission, based on the presumption that the patient desires to live.

The respiratory system functions by:

Answer: bringing oxygen into the body and removing carbon dioxide.

The primary function of the respiratory system is gas exchange. It is responsible for taking in oxygen from the atmosphere, which is essential for cellular metabolism, and expelling carbon dioxide, a waste product of metabolism, from the body. This continuous exchange is vital for maintaining the body's acid-base balance and overall cellular function.

When opening the airway of an unconscious injured patient, you should:

Answer: use the jaw-thrust maneuver.

When opening the airway of an unconscious injured patient, especially if there's a suspected head, neck, or spinal injury, the jaw-thrust maneuver should be used. This technique minimizes movement of the cervical spine, which is crucial to prevent further injury. The head tilt-chin lift maneuver is generally used for patients without suspected spinal trauma.

After opening the airway of an unconscious elderly woman, you discover that there are thin secretions in her mouth. You should:

Answer: clear her airway with suction.

After opening the airway of an unconscious patient, if secretions (like thin secretions, vomit, or blood) are present, the very first step is to clear the airway. Suctioning is the most effective method to remove these secretions and ensure a patent airway before attempting to assess breathing or provide ventilations. An obstructed airway will prevent effective rescue efforts.

If you are unable to feel a carotid pulse in an unconscious, non-breathing adult within 5 to 10 seconds, you should:

Answer: begin CPR, starting with chest compressions.

If you are unable to feel a carotid pulse in an unconscious, non-breathing adult within 5 to 10 seconds, it indicates that the patient is likely in cardiac arrest. According to current CPR guidelines, the immediate next step is to begin CPR, starting with high-quality chest compressions. Delaying compressions to look for other pulses or provide rescue breaths first can significantly reduce the patient's chances of survival.