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 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 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 _________.
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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 ____________.
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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:
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Most patients with abdominal pain prefer to:
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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?
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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.
