UCLA Entrance Exam [Airway] UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and
CORRECT Answers
1. Hyperventilation Pt is breathing too fast, exhaling too much CO2
2. Side effects of hyperven- Increased PH level in body, tingling in extremities, tachycardia, dizzi-
tilation ness
3. is a form of res- Hypoxic drive
piratory drive in which
the body uses oxygen
chemoreceptors instead
of carbon dioxide recep-
tors to regulate the respi-
ratory cycle. "Backup Sys-
tem" to control breath-
ing. COPD pt's.
4. Signs and Symptoms: Condition: Tension Pneumothorax
- Progressive SOB
- Increased ALOC
- Neck vein distention
- Tracheal deviation
5. Upon discovering an A) Prevent air from enteringthe open wound.
open chest wound, you
should: Immediately upon discovering an open chest wound (ie, sucking
chest wound), you must take immediate action to prevent air from
A:prevent air from enter- entering the wound. This is most effectively accomplished by applying
ing the open wound. an occlusive dressing or similar material to the wound. A porous
B:immediately reassess (non-occlusive) trauma dressing will not prevent air from entering the
the patient's ventilatory wound. Tape three sides of the occlusive dressing and closely monitor
status. the patient. If worsened respiratory distress and signs of shock are
C:quickly cover the noted, a tension pneumothorax is probably developing, and you must
wound with a porous release pressure from the pleural space by lifting up the unsecured
trauma dressing. portion of the occlusive dressing.
, UCLA Entrance Exam [Airway] UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and
CORRECT Answers
D:begin assisted venti-
lation and prepare for
transport.
6. You are assessing a A) hemothorax
young male who was
stabbed in the right low- Reason:
er chest. He is semi- You should suspect a hemothorax if a patient with chest trauma
conscious and has la- presents with shock, especially if the injury was caused by penetrat-
bored breathing, col- ing trauma. Hemothorax occurs when blood collects in the pleural
lapsed jugular veins, and space and compresses the lung, resulting in shock and respiratory
absent breath sounds on compromise. Other signs include collapsed jugular veins (due to low
the right side of his chest. blood volume), labored breathing, and decreased or absent breath
This patient MOST likely sounds on the side of the injury. A pneumothorax (air in the pleural
has a: space) is also associated with diflculty breathing and unilaterally
decreased or absent breath sounds; however, the jugular veins are
A:hemothorax. usually not collapsed. If excessive air accumulates within the pleural
B:pneumothorax. space, however, pressure will shift across the mediastinum and affect
C:ruptured spleen. the uninjured lung (tension pneumothorax); if this occurs, the jugular
D:liver laceration. veins may become engorged (distended). Splenic injury is unlikely;
the patient's injury is on the right side and the spleen is on the left.
A liver laceration can cause severe shock; however, it is not associated
with unilaterally decreased breath sounds or labored breathing.
7. A 45-year-old male was A) cover the stab wound with an occlusive dressing, support ventila-
stabbed in the left an- tion as needed, and transport rapidly.
terior chest. He is con-
scious, but restless. His Reason:
skin is cool and clam- Your patient has signs of a pericardial tamponade, a condition usually
my, his blood pressure is caused by penetrating chest trauma. In a pericardial tamponade,
90/60 mm Hg, his res- blood collects in the pericardial sac; this prevents the heart from filling
pirations are rapid and during the diastolic phase, causing a decrease in cardiac output and
, UCLA Entrance Exam [Airway] UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and
CORRECT Answers
shallow, and his heart blood pressure. Signs of a pericardial tamponade include muffled or
rate is 120 beats/min distant heart tones (diflcult to assess in the field); a rapid, weak pulse;
and weak. Further as- hypotension; jugular venous distention; and a narrowing pulse pres-
sessment reveals that his sure (difference between the systolic and diastolic blood pressures).
breath sounds are clear A tension pneumothorax is unlikely in this patient; his breath sounds
and equal bilaterally and are clear and equal bilaterally. Treatment for a pericardial tamponade
his jugular veins are dis- includes ensuring adequate oxygenation and ventilation, covering the
tended. In addition to giv- chest wound with an occlusive dressing (cover all open chest wounds
ing him high-flow oxy- with an occlusive dressing), controlling any external bleeding, and
gen, you should: transporting rapidly. Pericardial tamponade is a life-threatening con-
dition that requires definitive treatment at the hospital.
A:cover the stab wound
with an occlusive dress-
ing, support ventilation
as needed, and transport
rapidly.
B:control the bleeding
from the stab wound with
a sterile porous dress-
ing and reassess his vital
signs.
C:suspect that the patient
has a tension pneumoth-
orax and notify the trau-
ma center as soon as pos-
sible.
D:perform a detailed
physical exam at the
scene to ensure that you
locate and treat less obvi-
ous injuries.
, UCLA Entrance Exam [Airway] UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and
CORRECT Answers
8. Nocturnal Dyspnea PND is a sign of congestive heart failure and often strikes one or two
hours after the person with heart failure has fallen asleep.
Specifically, dyspnea, "refers to the sensation of diflcult or uncomfort-
able breathing,"according to the National Center for Biotechnonoly
Information. However, Dyspnea is not the same as hyperventilation
which consists of short, quick breaths and an inability to get one's
breath. Dyspnea can also be associated with exertion.
PND occurs by a fluid build up in the lungs entering the alveoli
(air sacs) while a person sleeps. The alveoli are responsible for
oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange from the blood. During the
day, the fluid is retained in the legs. At night, while sleeping, the
body resorbs this fluid resulting in an increase in total blood volume
and blood pressure leading to pulmonary hypertension or edema.
Many patients, without realizing the congestive heart failure nature
of these symptoms naturally counteract these symptoms by sleeping
on several pillows or sleeping while sitting up.
One explanation for the onset of symptoms is that the left ventricle
is starting to fail and is unable to keep up with the performance
of a perfectly healthy right ventricle. Other theories according NCBI,
include "decreased responsiveness of the respiratory center in the
brain and decreased adrenergic (adrenalin-fueled) activity in the
myocardium (heart muscles) during sleep."
Common Causes of PND
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): a group of lung
conditions including chronic bronchitis and emphysema that affects
the lungs' ability to function normally.
-Cor Pulmonale: "An acute strain or hypertrophy [abnormal enlarge-
CORRECT Answers
1. Hyperventilation Pt is breathing too fast, exhaling too much CO2
2. Side effects of hyperven- Increased PH level in body, tingling in extremities, tachycardia, dizzi-
tilation ness
3. is a form of res- Hypoxic drive
piratory drive in which
the body uses oxygen
chemoreceptors instead
of carbon dioxide recep-
tors to regulate the respi-
ratory cycle. "Backup Sys-
tem" to control breath-
ing. COPD pt's.
4. Signs and Symptoms: Condition: Tension Pneumothorax
- Progressive SOB
- Increased ALOC
- Neck vein distention
- Tracheal deviation
5. Upon discovering an A) Prevent air from enteringthe open wound.
open chest wound, you
should: Immediately upon discovering an open chest wound (ie, sucking
chest wound), you must take immediate action to prevent air from
A:prevent air from enter- entering the wound. This is most effectively accomplished by applying
ing the open wound. an occlusive dressing or similar material to the wound. A porous
B:immediately reassess (non-occlusive) trauma dressing will not prevent air from entering the
the patient's ventilatory wound. Tape three sides of the occlusive dressing and closely monitor
status. the patient. If worsened respiratory distress and signs of shock are
C:quickly cover the noted, a tension pneumothorax is probably developing, and you must
wound with a porous release pressure from the pleural space by lifting up the unsecured
trauma dressing. portion of the occlusive dressing.
, UCLA Entrance Exam [Airway] UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and
CORRECT Answers
D:begin assisted venti-
lation and prepare for
transport.
6. You are assessing a A) hemothorax
young male who was
stabbed in the right low- Reason:
er chest. He is semi- You should suspect a hemothorax if a patient with chest trauma
conscious and has la- presents with shock, especially if the injury was caused by penetrat-
bored breathing, col- ing trauma. Hemothorax occurs when blood collects in the pleural
lapsed jugular veins, and space and compresses the lung, resulting in shock and respiratory
absent breath sounds on compromise. Other signs include collapsed jugular veins (due to low
the right side of his chest. blood volume), labored breathing, and decreased or absent breath
This patient MOST likely sounds on the side of the injury. A pneumothorax (air in the pleural
has a: space) is also associated with diflculty breathing and unilaterally
decreased or absent breath sounds; however, the jugular veins are
A:hemothorax. usually not collapsed. If excessive air accumulates within the pleural
B:pneumothorax. space, however, pressure will shift across the mediastinum and affect
C:ruptured spleen. the uninjured lung (tension pneumothorax); if this occurs, the jugular
D:liver laceration. veins may become engorged (distended). Splenic injury is unlikely;
the patient's injury is on the right side and the spleen is on the left.
A liver laceration can cause severe shock; however, it is not associated
with unilaterally decreased breath sounds or labored breathing.
7. A 45-year-old male was A) cover the stab wound with an occlusive dressing, support ventila-
stabbed in the left an- tion as needed, and transport rapidly.
terior chest. He is con-
scious, but restless. His Reason:
skin is cool and clam- Your patient has signs of a pericardial tamponade, a condition usually
my, his blood pressure is caused by penetrating chest trauma. In a pericardial tamponade,
90/60 mm Hg, his res- blood collects in the pericardial sac; this prevents the heart from filling
pirations are rapid and during the diastolic phase, causing a decrease in cardiac output and
, UCLA Entrance Exam [Airway] UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and
CORRECT Answers
shallow, and his heart blood pressure. Signs of a pericardial tamponade include muffled or
rate is 120 beats/min distant heart tones (diflcult to assess in the field); a rapid, weak pulse;
and weak. Further as- hypotension; jugular venous distention; and a narrowing pulse pres-
sessment reveals that his sure (difference between the systolic and diastolic blood pressures).
breath sounds are clear A tension pneumothorax is unlikely in this patient; his breath sounds
and equal bilaterally and are clear and equal bilaterally. Treatment for a pericardial tamponade
his jugular veins are dis- includes ensuring adequate oxygenation and ventilation, covering the
tended. In addition to giv- chest wound with an occlusive dressing (cover all open chest wounds
ing him high-flow oxy- with an occlusive dressing), controlling any external bleeding, and
gen, you should: transporting rapidly. Pericardial tamponade is a life-threatening con-
dition that requires definitive treatment at the hospital.
A:cover the stab wound
with an occlusive dress-
ing, support ventilation
as needed, and transport
rapidly.
B:control the bleeding
from the stab wound with
a sterile porous dress-
ing and reassess his vital
signs.
C:suspect that the patient
has a tension pneumoth-
orax and notify the trau-
ma center as soon as pos-
sible.
D:perform a detailed
physical exam at the
scene to ensure that you
locate and treat less obvi-
ous injuries.
, UCLA Entrance Exam [Airway] UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and
CORRECT Answers
8. Nocturnal Dyspnea PND is a sign of congestive heart failure and often strikes one or two
hours after the person with heart failure has fallen asleep.
Specifically, dyspnea, "refers to the sensation of diflcult or uncomfort-
able breathing,"according to the National Center for Biotechnonoly
Information. However, Dyspnea is not the same as hyperventilation
which consists of short, quick breaths and an inability to get one's
breath. Dyspnea can also be associated with exertion.
PND occurs by a fluid build up in the lungs entering the alveoli
(air sacs) while a person sleeps. The alveoli are responsible for
oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange from the blood. During the
day, the fluid is retained in the legs. At night, while sleeping, the
body resorbs this fluid resulting in an increase in total blood volume
and blood pressure leading to pulmonary hypertension or edema.
Many patients, without realizing the congestive heart failure nature
of these symptoms naturally counteract these symptoms by sleeping
on several pillows or sleeping while sitting up.
One explanation for the onset of symptoms is that the left ventricle
is starting to fail and is unable to keep up with the performance
of a perfectly healthy right ventricle. Other theories according NCBI,
include "decreased responsiveness of the respiratory center in the
brain and decreased adrenergic (adrenalin-fueled) activity in the
myocardium (heart muscles) during sleep."
Common Causes of PND
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): a group of lung
conditions including chronic bronchitis and emphysema that affects
the lungs' ability to function normally.
-Cor Pulmonale: "An acute strain or hypertrophy [abnormal enlarge-
