EMT-B Chapter 29 - Chest Injuries
35 Questions
100 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

When a person is lying supine at the end of exhalation, where may the diaphragm rise as high as?

the nipple line

What is MOST likely causing this patient's deterioration: compression of the aorta and vena cava?

compression of the aorta and vena cava

Common signs and symptoms of a chest injury include all of the following, EXCEPT:

  • Crepitus with palpation of the chest
  • Bruising of the chest wall
  • Unequal expansion of the chest wall
  • Clear and equal breath sounds (correct)
  • Which of the following organs or structures does NOT reside within the mediastinum?

    <p>lungs</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What should you do when a patient is experiencing increasing respiratory distress and tachycardia after an open chest wound has been sealed?

    <p>partially remove the dressing</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The MOST critical treatment for a tension pneumothorax involves:

    <p>inserting a needle through the rib cage into the pleural space</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Pleural fluid is contained between the:

    <p>visceral and parietal pleurae</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The thoracic cavity is separated from the abdominal cavity by the:

    <p>diaphragm</p> Signup and view all the answers

    To avoid exacerbating a patient's pneumothorax, what should you use extreme caution with?

    <p>positive-pressure ventilation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What should you provide for an 18-year-old female presenting with respiratory distress and signs of shock after blunt chest trauma?

    <p>positive-pressure ventilation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Immediate death from blunt chest trauma following a motor vehicle crash is MOST often the result of:

    <p>traumatic aortic rupture</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The phrenic nerves control the diaphragm and exit the spinal cord at:

    <p>C3, C4, and C5</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A patient who presents with profound cyanosis following a chest injury:

    <p>requires prompt ventilation and oxygenation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    If paradoxical movement of a chest wall is noted, what should you do?

    <p>stabilize the chest wall with a bulky dressing</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Elevation of the rib cage during inhalation occurs when:

    <p>the intercostal muscles contract</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What likely occurred if a 19-year-old male is unresponsive, apneic, and pulseless after being struck in the chest?

    <p>ventricular fibrillation when the impact occurred during a critical portion of the cardiac cycle</p> Signup and view all the answers

    If a person's tidal volume decreases, but respiratory rate remains unchanged:

    <p>minute volume will decrease</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Hemoptysis is defined as:

    <p>coughing up blood</p> Signup and view all the answers

    After a baseball bat injury, what should you prepare for if the patient has severe chest pain and rapid irregular pulse?

    <p>immediate transport</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What should you be MOST suspicious of for an unconscious, tachycardic, and diaphoretic female who wasn't wearing a seatbelt after a crash?

    <p>laceration of the aorta</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What occurs when there is irritation or damage to the pleural surfaces that causes sharp chest pain during inhalation?

    <p>pleurisy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Signs and symptoms of a tension pneumothorax include all of the following, EXCEPT:

    <p>Collapsed jugular veins</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Immediate death from blunt chest trauma following a motor vehicle crash is MOST often the result of:

    <p>Traumatic aortic rupture</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The ________ nerves control the diaphragm.

    <p>phrenic</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What occurs when a patient's injury allows air to enter through a hole in the chest wall or lung surface, causing the lung to collapse?

    <p>pneumothorax</p> Signup and view all the answers

    An open pneumothorax occurs when:

    <p>air enters the pleural space from outside the body</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Upon finding a patient with severe labored breathing and a large bruise to the chest, what should you immediately request?

    <p>ALS support</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why are children often 'belly breathers'?

    <p>their intercostal muscles are not developed</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the most likely condition for a patient holding the lateral side of his chest with rapid and shallow respirations?

    <p>Rib fractures</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What should you administer and transport to the hospital for a patient with diminished breath sounds and stable vital signs?

    <p>oxygen</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Following an injury from a truck, what should you suspect with bruising to the chest and distended neck veins?

    <p>severe hemopneumothorax</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which assessment findings should increase your suspicion for a cardiac tamponade?

    <p>engorged jugular veins</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A spinal cord injury at the level of C7 would MOST likely result in:

    <p>Paralysis of the intercostal muscles</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Patients with chest injuries will often present with:

    <p>Tachypnea</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What should you suspect if the patient has a flail segment to the right side of the chest after 12 hours?

    <p>pulmonary contusion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Chest Injuries Overview

    • Diaphragm can rise to the nipple line when a person is supine at the end of exhalation.
    • Compression of the aorta and vena cava is the likely cause of deterioration in a stable patient with a pneumothorax.
    • Common signs of chest injuries include respiratory distress and tachycardia; hematemesis is not typical.
    • Lungs do not reside within the mediastinum, which contains structures like the heart and great vessels.

    Management of Chest Wounds

    • If a sealed open chest wound leads to increased respiratory distress, partially removing the dressing is necessary.
    • Tension pneumothorax requires urgent intervention by inserting a needle into the pleural space.
    • Pleural fluid is found between the visceral and parietal pleurae, allowing for smooth lung movement.

    Respiratory Mechanics

    • Thoracic cavity is separated from the abdominal cavity by the diaphragm.
    • Positive-pressure ventilation can exacerbate pneumothorax injuries.
    • Increased respiratory rate is needed if tidal volume decreases to maintain minute volume.

    Injury Mechanisms and Symptoms

    • Blunt chest trauma can lead to immediate death from traumatic aortic rupture.
    • Phrenic nerves control the diaphragm, originating from spinal cord segments C3, C4, and C5.
    • Patients presenting with profound cyanosis post-chest injury require immediate ventilation and oxygenation.

    Specific Conditions and Signs

    • Paradoxical movement in blunt chest trauma indicates a need for chest wall stabilization.
    • Flail chest involves a segment of the chest wall that is detached and typically results from rib fractures.
    • Myocardial contusion indicated by a rapid, irregular pulse after blunt chest trauma.

    Pneumothorax and Tamponade

    • Simple pneumothorax is common with blunt trauma; open pneumothorax occurs when air enters the pleural space from the outside.
    • Cardiac tamponade manifests with engorged jugular veins and could develop after penetrating chest trauma.

    Pediatric Considerations

    • Children may be "belly breathers" due to underdeveloped intercostal muscles.

    Key Assessment Indicators

    • Clear and equal breath sounds are a normal finding and not indicative of injury.
    • A rapid assessment for life-threatening injuries is crucial during the primary assessment.
    • Pulmonary contusion suspected with a flail segment and respiratory distress despite equal breath sounds.

    Additional Assessment Findings

    • A patient with a history of blunt trauma showing distended neck veins, diminished breath sounds, and bruising suggests severe hemopneumothorax.
    • A spinal cord injury at the C7 level primarily results in intercostal muscle paralysis without affecting diaphragm function.

    Summary of Signs

    • Tachypnea is a common presentation in patients with chest injuries.
    • Hemoptysis, defined as coughing up blood, can occur due to various chest injuries or lung involvement.

    Studying That Suits You

    Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

    Quiz Team

    Description

    Test your knowledge on chest injuries with this quiz based on EMT-B Chapter 29. Covering key concepts and scenarios, these flashcards will help reinforce your understanding of chest trauma management. Perfect for EMT-B students preparing for practical exams.

    More Like This

    Chest Injuries and Management
    20 questions
    EMT Chapter 29 - Chest Injuries Quiz
    20 questions
    Chapter 29 Chest Injuries Flashcards
    23 questions
    Chest Injuries: Mechanism of Injury Quiz
    39 questions
    Use Quizgecko on...
    Browser
    Browser