Respiratory Emergencies UPDATED
Questions and CORRECT Answers
You are dispatched to a residence for a young woman with difficulty breathing. When you arrive,
you find the patient sitting in a tripod position, noticeably dyspneic and tachypneic. She tells you
that she experienced a sudden sharp pain to the left side of her chest and then started having
trouble breathing. She denies any past medical history and states that she only takes birth control
pills. Based on this patient's clinical presentation, you should be MOST suspicious for -
CORRECT ANSWER - spontaneous pneumothorax
The oropharynx and nasopharynx meet in the back of the throat at the: - CORRECT
ANSWER - hypopharynx
If a patient's initial presentation makes you suspicious about a particular respiratory condition,
you must: - CORRECT ANSWER - confirm your suspicions with a thorough assessment
You are transporting a middle-aged man on a CPAP unit for severe pulmonary edema. An IV line
of normal saline is in place. Prior to applying the CPAP device, the patient was tachypneic and
had an oxygen saturation of 90%. When you reassess him, you note that his respirations have
increased and his oxygen saturation has dropped to 84%. You should: - CORRECT
ANSWER - remove the CPAP unit, assist his ventilations with a bag-mask device, and
prepare to intubate him
On either side of the glottis, tissue forms a pocket called the: - CORRECT ANSWER -
piriform fossae
You respond to the residence of an elderly man with severe COPD. You recognize the address
because you have responded there numerous times in the recent past. You find the patient, who is
clearly emaciated, seated in his recliner. He is on oxygen via nasal cannula, is semiconscious,
and is breathing inadequately. The patient's daughter tells you that her father has an out-of-
hospital DNR order, for which she is frantically looking. You should: - CORRECT
ANSWER - recognize that he is experiencing end-stage COPD, begin assisting his
ventilations, and contact medical control as needed
, Inspiratory and expiratory__________ sounds are both loud, but the inspiratory sounds are
shorter than the expiratory sounds. - CORRECT ANSWER - bronchial
The by-product of cellular respiration is - CORRECT ANSWER - carbon dioxide
A patient who is experiencing an allergic reaction states that his tongue "feels thick" and speaks
at a low volume. You should immediately evaluate for - CORRECT ANSWER -
angioedema
Common effects of gag reflex stimulation include all of the following, EXCEPT: - CORRECT
ANSWER - tachycardia.
Intubation of a patient with severe asthma: - CORRECT ANSWER - is often a last resort
because asthmatics are difficult to ventilate and are prone to pneumothoraces
A known heroin abuser is found unconscious on a park bench. Your assessment reveals that his
respirations are slow and shallow, and his pulse is slow and weak. You should: - CORRECT
ANSWER - assist ventilations with a bag-mask device, administer naloxone, and reassess
his ventilatory status
A patient with status asthmaticus commonly presents with: - CORRECT ANSWER -
physical exhaustion and inaudible breath sounds.
A 36-year-old man with a history of asthma presents with severe respiratory distress. You attempt
to administer a nebulized beta-2 agonist, but his poor respiratory effort is inhibiting effective
drug delivery via the nebulizer and his mental status is deteriorating. You should: - CORRECT
ANSWER - assist his ventilations and establish vascular access.
A patient with respiratory distress who is willing to lie flat: - CORRECT ANSWER - may
be acutely deteriorating.
Questions and CORRECT Answers
You are dispatched to a residence for a young woman with difficulty breathing. When you arrive,
you find the patient sitting in a tripod position, noticeably dyspneic and tachypneic. She tells you
that she experienced a sudden sharp pain to the left side of her chest and then started having
trouble breathing. She denies any past medical history and states that she only takes birth control
pills. Based on this patient's clinical presentation, you should be MOST suspicious for -
CORRECT ANSWER - spontaneous pneumothorax
The oropharynx and nasopharynx meet in the back of the throat at the: - CORRECT
ANSWER - hypopharynx
If a patient's initial presentation makes you suspicious about a particular respiratory condition,
you must: - CORRECT ANSWER - confirm your suspicions with a thorough assessment
You are transporting a middle-aged man on a CPAP unit for severe pulmonary edema. An IV line
of normal saline is in place. Prior to applying the CPAP device, the patient was tachypneic and
had an oxygen saturation of 90%. When you reassess him, you note that his respirations have
increased and his oxygen saturation has dropped to 84%. You should: - CORRECT
ANSWER - remove the CPAP unit, assist his ventilations with a bag-mask device, and
prepare to intubate him
On either side of the glottis, tissue forms a pocket called the: - CORRECT ANSWER -
piriform fossae
You respond to the residence of an elderly man with severe COPD. You recognize the address
because you have responded there numerous times in the recent past. You find the patient, who is
clearly emaciated, seated in his recliner. He is on oxygen via nasal cannula, is semiconscious,
and is breathing inadequately. The patient's daughter tells you that her father has an out-of-
hospital DNR order, for which she is frantically looking. You should: - CORRECT
ANSWER - recognize that he is experiencing end-stage COPD, begin assisting his
ventilations, and contact medical control as needed
, Inspiratory and expiratory__________ sounds are both loud, but the inspiratory sounds are
shorter than the expiratory sounds. - CORRECT ANSWER - bronchial
The by-product of cellular respiration is - CORRECT ANSWER - carbon dioxide
A patient who is experiencing an allergic reaction states that his tongue "feels thick" and speaks
at a low volume. You should immediately evaluate for - CORRECT ANSWER -
angioedema
Common effects of gag reflex stimulation include all of the following, EXCEPT: - CORRECT
ANSWER - tachycardia.
Intubation of a patient with severe asthma: - CORRECT ANSWER - is often a last resort
because asthmatics are difficult to ventilate and are prone to pneumothoraces
A known heroin abuser is found unconscious on a park bench. Your assessment reveals that his
respirations are slow and shallow, and his pulse is slow and weak. You should: - CORRECT
ANSWER - assist ventilations with a bag-mask device, administer naloxone, and reassess
his ventilatory status
A patient with status asthmaticus commonly presents with: - CORRECT ANSWER -
physical exhaustion and inaudible breath sounds.
A 36-year-old man with a history of asthma presents with severe respiratory distress. You attempt
to administer a nebulized beta-2 agonist, but his poor respiratory effort is inhibiting effective
drug delivery via the nebulizer and his mental status is deteriorating. You should: - CORRECT
ANSWER - assist his ventilations and establish vascular access.
A patient with respiratory distress who is willing to lie flat: - CORRECT ANSWER - may
be acutely deteriorating.
