UCLA Entrance Exam [Airway]
Questions and Answers 100% Pass
Hyperventilation - ✔✔Pt is breathing too fast, exhaling too much CO2
Side effects of hyperventilation - ✔✔Increased PH level in body, tingling in extremities,
tachycardia, dizziness
______ is a form of respiratory drive in which the body uses oxygen chemoreceptors
instead of carbon dioxide receptors to regulate the respiratory cycle. "Backup System" to
control breathing. COPD pt's. - ✔✔Hypoxic drive
Signs and Symptoms:
- Progressive SOB
- Increased ALOC
- Neck vein distention
- Tracheal deviation - ✔✔Condition: Tension Pneumothorax
Upon discovering an open chest wound, you should:
A:prevent air from entering the open wound.
B:immediately reassess the patient's ventilatory status.
C:quickly cover the wound with a porous trauma dressing.
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY BRITTIE DONALD, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,D:begin assisted ventilation and prepare for transport. - ✔✔A) Prevent air from
enteringthe open wound.
Immediately upon discovering an open chest wound (ie, sucking chest wound), you
must take immediate action to prevent air from entering the wound. This is most
effectively accomplished by applying an occlusive dressing or similar material to the
wound. A porous (non-occlusive) trauma dressing will not prevent air from entering
the wound. Tape three sides of the occlusive dressing and closely monitor the patient. If
worsened respiratory distress and signs of shock are noted, a tension pneumothorax is
probably developing, and you must release pressure from the pleural space by lifting
up the unsecured portion of the occlusive dressing.
You are assessing a young male who was stabbed in the right lower chest. He is
semiconscious and has labored breathing, collapsed jugular veins, and absent breath
sounds on the right side of his chest. This patient MOST likely has a:
A:hemothorax.
B:pneumothorax.
C:ruptured spleen.
D:liver laceration. - ✔✔A) hemothorax
Reason:
You should suspect a hemothorax if a patient with chest trauma presents with shock,
especially if the injury was caused by penetrating trauma. Hemothorax occurs when
blood collects in the pleural space and compresses the lung, resulting in shock and
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY BRITTIE DONALD, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,respiratory compromise. Other signs include collapsed jugular veins (due to low blood
volume), labored breathing, and decreased or absent breath sounds on the side of the
injury. A pneumothorax (air in the pleural space) is also associated with difficulty
breathing and unilaterally decreased or absent breath sounds; however, the jugular
veins are usually not collapsed. If excessive air accumulates within the pleural space,
however, pressure will shift across the mediastinum and affect the uninjured lung
(tension pneumothorax); if this occurs, the jugular 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.
A 45-year-old male was stabbed in the left anterior chest. He is conscious, but restless.
His skin is cool and clammy, his blood pressure is 90/60 mm Hg, his respirations are
rapid and shallow, and his heart rate is 120 beats/min and weak. Further assessment
reveals that his breath sounds are clear and equal bilaterally and his jugular veins are
distended. In addition to giving him high-flow oxygen, you should:
A:cover the stab wound with an occlusive dressing, support ventilation as needed, and
transport rapidly.
B:control the bleeding from the stab wound with a sterile porous dressing and reassess
his vital signs.
C:suspect that the patient has a tension pneumothorax and notify the trauma center as
soon as possible.
D:perform a detailed physical exam at the scene to ensure that you locate and treat less
obvious injuries. - ✔✔A) cover the stab wound with an occlusive dressing, support
ventilation as needed, and transport rapidly.
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY BRITTIE DONALD, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, Reason:
Your patient has signs of a pericardial tamponade, a condition usually caused by
penetrating chest trauma. In a pericardial tamponade, blood collects in the pericardial
sac; this prevents the heart from filling during the diastolic phase, causing a decrease in
cardiac output and blood pressure. Signs of a pericardial tamponade include muffled or
distant heart tones (difficult to assess in the field); a rapid, weak pulse; hypotension;
jugular venous distention; and a narrowing pulse pressure (difference between the
systolic and diastolic blood pressures). A tension pneumothorax is unlikely in this
patient; his breath sounds are clear and equal bilaterally. Treatment for a pericardial
tamponade includes ensuring adequate oxygenation and ventilation, covering the chest
wound with an occlusive dressing (cover all open chest wounds with an occlusive
dressing), controlling any external bleeding, and transporting rapidly. Pericardial
tamponade is a life-threatening condition that requires definitive treatment at the
hospital.
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 difficult or uncomfortable
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
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY BRITTIE DONALD, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
Questions and Answers 100% Pass
Hyperventilation - ✔✔Pt is breathing too fast, exhaling too much CO2
Side effects of hyperventilation - ✔✔Increased PH level in body, tingling in extremities,
tachycardia, dizziness
______ is a form of respiratory drive in which the body uses oxygen chemoreceptors
instead of carbon dioxide receptors to regulate the respiratory cycle. "Backup System" to
control breathing. COPD pt's. - ✔✔Hypoxic drive
Signs and Symptoms:
- Progressive SOB
- Increased ALOC
- Neck vein distention
- Tracheal deviation - ✔✔Condition: Tension Pneumothorax
Upon discovering an open chest wound, you should:
A:prevent air from entering the open wound.
B:immediately reassess the patient's ventilatory status.
C:quickly cover the wound with a porous trauma dressing.
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY BRITTIE DONALD, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,D:begin assisted ventilation and prepare for transport. - ✔✔A) Prevent air from
enteringthe open wound.
Immediately upon discovering an open chest wound (ie, sucking chest wound), you
must take immediate action to prevent air from entering the wound. This is most
effectively accomplished by applying an occlusive dressing or similar material to the
wound. A porous (non-occlusive) trauma dressing will not prevent air from entering
the wound. Tape three sides of the occlusive dressing and closely monitor the patient. If
worsened respiratory distress and signs of shock are noted, a tension pneumothorax is
probably developing, and you must release pressure from the pleural space by lifting
up the unsecured portion of the occlusive dressing.
You are assessing a young male who was stabbed in the right lower chest. He is
semiconscious and has labored breathing, collapsed jugular veins, and absent breath
sounds on the right side of his chest. This patient MOST likely has a:
A:hemothorax.
B:pneumothorax.
C:ruptured spleen.
D:liver laceration. - ✔✔A) hemothorax
Reason:
You should suspect a hemothorax if a patient with chest trauma presents with shock,
especially if the injury was caused by penetrating trauma. Hemothorax occurs when
blood collects in the pleural space and compresses the lung, resulting in shock and
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY BRITTIE DONALD, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,respiratory compromise. Other signs include collapsed jugular veins (due to low blood
volume), labored breathing, and decreased or absent breath sounds on the side of the
injury. A pneumothorax (air in the pleural space) is also associated with difficulty
breathing and unilaterally decreased or absent breath sounds; however, the jugular
veins are usually not collapsed. If excessive air accumulates within the pleural space,
however, pressure will shift across the mediastinum and affect the uninjured lung
(tension pneumothorax); if this occurs, the jugular 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.
A 45-year-old male was stabbed in the left anterior chest. He is conscious, but restless.
His skin is cool and clammy, his blood pressure is 90/60 mm Hg, his respirations are
rapid and shallow, and his heart rate is 120 beats/min and weak. Further assessment
reveals that his breath sounds are clear and equal bilaterally and his jugular veins are
distended. In addition to giving him high-flow oxygen, you should:
A:cover the stab wound with an occlusive dressing, support ventilation as needed, and
transport rapidly.
B:control the bleeding from the stab wound with a sterile porous dressing and reassess
his vital signs.
C:suspect that the patient has a tension pneumothorax and notify the trauma center as
soon as possible.
D:perform a detailed physical exam at the scene to ensure that you locate and treat less
obvious injuries. - ✔✔A) cover the stab wound with an occlusive dressing, support
ventilation as needed, and transport rapidly.
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY BRITTIE DONALD, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, Reason:
Your patient has signs of a pericardial tamponade, a condition usually caused by
penetrating chest trauma. In a pericardial tamponade, blood collects in the pericardial
sac; this prevents the heart from filling during the diastolic phase, causing a decrease in
cardiac output and blood pressure. Signs of a pericardial tamponade include muffled or
distant heart tones (difficult to assess in the field); a rapid, weak pulse; hypotension;
jugular venous distention; and a narrowing pulse pressure (difference between the
systolic and diastolic blood pressures). A tension pneumothorax is unlikely in this
patient; his breath sounds are clear and equal bilaterally. Treatment for a pericardial
tamponade includes ensuring adequate oxygenation and ventilation, covering the chest
wound with an occlusive dressing (cover all open chest wounds with an occlusive
dressing), controlling any external bleeding, and transporting rapidly. Pericardial
tamponade is a life-threatening condition that requires definitive treatment at the
hospital.
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 difficult or uncomfortable
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
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY BRITTIE DONALD, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
