Podcast
Questions and Answers
A 30-year-old woman with a history of alcoholism presents with severe upper abdominal pain and is vomiting large amounts of bright red blood. Your MOST immediate action should be to:
A 30-year-old woman with a history of alcoholism presents with severe upper abdominal pain and is vomiting large amounts of bright red blood. Your MOST immediate action should be to:
A 29-year-old pregnant woman has had severe vomiting for the last 2 days. Today, she is vomiting large amounts of blood. The EMT should suspect:
A 29-year-old pregnant woman has had severe vomiting for the last 2 days. Today, she is vomiting large amounts of blood. The EMT should suspect:
Which of the following may help reduce your patient's nausea?
Which of the following may help reduce your patient's nausea?
Which of the following statements regarding the acute abdomen is correct?
Which of the following statements regarding the acute abdomen is correct?
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For a patient with a gastrointestinal complaint, it is MOST important for the EMT to _________.
For a patient with a gastrointestinal complaint, it is MOST important for the EMT to _________.
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Peritonitis may result in shock because:
Peritonitis may result in shock because:
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Your patient complains of abdominal pain that occurs mostly at night or after eating fatty foods. You should suspect ____________.
Your patient complains of abdominal pain that occurs mostly at night or after eating fatty foods. You should suspect ____________.
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Your patient complains of chronic 'burning' stomach pain that improves after eating. You should suspect:
Your patient complains of chronic 'burning' stomach pain that improves after eating. You should suspect:
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A 47-year-old male presents with severe abdominal pain of 3 hours' duration. His abdomen is distended and guarded. Your MOST important consideration for this patient should be to:
A 47-year-old male presents with severe abdominal pain of 3 hours' duration. His abdomen is distended and guarded. Your MOST important consideration for this patient should be to:
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Most patients with abdominal pain prefer to:
Most patients with abdominal pain prefer to:
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When assessing a patient with abdominal pain, you should:
When assessing a patient with abdominal pain, you should:
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Which of the following helps filter the blood and has no digestive function?
Which of the following helps filter the blood and has no digestive function?
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Which of the following organs lies in the retroperitoneal space?
Which of the following organs lies in the retroperitoneal space?
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Study Notes
Patient Assessment and Treatment
- Immediate action for a woman with alcoholism, severe abdominal pain, and bright red vomiting is to protect her airway from aspiration.
- A pregnant woman with severe vomiting and tachycardia may indicate a Mallory-Weiss tear, a tear in the esophagus caused by intense vomiting.
- Low-flow oxygen can help reduce nausea in patients.
Understanding Acute Abdomen
- Initial pain from an acute abdomen is often vague and poorly localized.
- The parietal peritoneum is usually the first abdominal layer to become inflamed.
Transport Considerations
- Identifying if a patient requires rapid transport is crucial for those with gastrointestinal complaints.
- Be alert for signs and symptoms of shock in patients with severe abdominal pain.
Pain and its Causes
- Abdominal pain occurring mostly at night or after fatty foods suggests cholecystitis, inflammation of the gallbladder.
- Chronic "burning" stomach pain that improves after eating is indicative of peptic ulcer disease.
Patient Positioning and Comfort
- Patients with abdominal pain typically prefer to lie on their side with knees drawn into the abdomen for comfort.
- For abdominal assessment, palpate in a clockwise direction starting after the painful quadrant, and assess for rebound tenderness as well.
Anatomy and Physiology
- The spleen filters blood and has no digestive function.
- The pancreas is an organ located in the retroperitoneal space, meaning it lies behind the peritoneum.
Complications and Risks
- Peritonitis can cause shock due to fluid shifts from the bloodstream into body tissues.
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Description
Test your knowledge on critical EMT scenarios in Chapter 18. This quiz focuses on emergency response actions when faced with severe medical conditions. Understand how to prioritize life-saving interventions effectively.
