Question 1

On scene, you have a 57-year-old female with profuse hemorrhage coming from her dialysis graft located on her left arm. To control the bleeding, you would immediately:

Accepted Answer

Applying direct pressure to the graft is the best option to control the bleeding. Placing a tourniquet over the graft or above the graft may compromise blood flow to the arm and potentially cause further harm. Avoiding contact with the graft and transporting the patient is not an appropriate intervention for active bleeding.

Question 2

Assessment of a confused and lethargic patient with diabetes and renal failure reveals her to be lying in bed with notable significant edema to the face, torso, and extremities. Her respirations are extremely labored and associated with a "grunting" sound. Her airway is patent, radial pulse weak, and skin cool and diaphoretic with cyanosis noted to the fingers. Oxygen has been applied by Emergency Medical Responders (EMRs). Your next action would be to:

Accepted Answer

Given the patient's extremely labored breathing and the presence of significant edema, sitting the patient upright can help improve respiratory function by reducing diaphragmatic pressure and facilitating easier breathing, which is a priority in this scenario.

Question 3

You are treating a woman with heavy vaginal bleeding. When estimating the blood loss, which of the following will be most useful to the EMT?

Accepted Answer

The total number of sanitary napkins used is a practical and quantifiable measure that can help an EMT estimate the amount of blood loss more accurately than the other options provided.

Question 4

You are responding to a patient with a complication related to her chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Based on this description, the paramedic would anticipate which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) involves placing a catheter in the abdomen to allow for placement of dialysis fluid. Complications related to CAPD are likely related to this catheter and peritoneal dialysis, such as peritonitis or catheter malfunction. A catheter placed in the neck or a dialysis port in the chest would not be appropriate for CAPD, and a dialysis graft in either arm is typically used for hemodialysis, not peritoneal dialysis.

Question 5

You are by the side of a patient who states that he thinks he has a kidney stone. After assessing the patient, which of the following would force you to consider another cause of the patient's pain?

Accepted Answer

Tearing pain in the abdomen is not a typical symptom of kidney stones, and could suggest a different cause of the patient's pain, such as an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Blood in the urine, frequent urge to urinate, and flank pain that radiates into the groin are all common symptoms of kidney stones.

Question 6

A patient has a tumor that has compressed and obstructed her left ureter. Which of the following is true?

Accepted Answer

The urine will back up into the left kidney because the obstruction is preventing urine from flowing out of the kidney.

Question 7

A patient suffering from a kidney stone would most likely have which of the following complaints?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A patient suffering from a kidney stone...

Question 8

A 44-year-old female states that she has a history of endometritis. As such, the EMT would recognize that the patient suffers from:

Accepted Answer

Endometritis is an infection of the endometrial lining of the uterus.

Question 9

What condition would indicate an infection in the retroperitoneal portion of the abdomen?

Accepted Answer

Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas, which is located in the retroperitoneal portion of the abdomen. Therefore, if there is an infection in this area, it could lead to pancreatitis. Gastroenteritis, hepatitis, and an inflamed spleen are not specifically related to the retroperitoneal portion of the abdomen.

Question 10

You have been dispatched to a residence for a patient experiencing an exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis. Which of the following chief complaints do you anticipate the patient having?

Accepted Answer

Chronic pancreatitis is characterized by ongoing inflammation of the pancreas, which can result in severe abdominal pain. While chronic diarrhea can occur in some cases, it is not typically the chief complaint associated with exacerbations of chronic pancreatitis. Bloody stool and altered mental status are also less commonly associated with the condition.

Question 11

A patient with abdominal pain shows you black and loosely formed stool in the toilet. You would advise the hospital that the patient has:

Accepted Answer

Black, tarry stools are indicative of melenic stool, which is caused by digested blood in the stool. This could suggest gastrointestinal bleeding, which is a serious medical condition that requires hospital evaluation. Hematemesis is vomiting blood, bile-like stool would be a light brown or green stool with a texture similar to bile, and hematochezia is bright red blood in the stool.

Question 12

The EMT understands that the most common cause of urinary tract infections is:

Accepted Answer

Urinary tract infections are most commonly caused by bacterial invasion, usually from Escherichia coli (E.coli) bacteria entering the urethra and traveling to the bladder or kidneys. Poor handwashing and overuse of antibiotics can contribute to the problem, but they are not the primary cause. Frequent urination may be a symptom of a urinary tract infection, but it is not the cause.

Question 13

Which of the following complaints would raise the EMT's suspicion that a female patient has a urinary tract infection (UTI)?

Accepted Answer

A burning sensation during urination is a common symptom of a UTI. The other answer choices may suggest other conditions such as diabetes (option A), sciatica or spinal cord injury (option B), or a sexually transmitted infection (option D).

Question 14

Which of the following describes a female patient with a problem to her urinary system?

Accepted Answer

Swelling of the ureter indicates a problem in the urinary system. Infections of the fallopian tubes, damage to the vaginal canal, and cancerous lesions to the ovary are not specific to the urinary system.

Question 15

An EMR tells you that a patient has pain just above the umbilicus. You would document this as pain in the:

Accepted Answer

Pain just above the umbilicus is located in the epigastric area.

Question 16

A patient with a history of frequent urinary tract infections (UTI) is complaining of lower abdominal pain and feels as though she has one again. Which of the following assessment findings would cause you to question the presence of a UTI?

Accepted Answer

Vaginal bleeding is not a typical symptom of a UTI and could indicate other causes such as menstrual bleeding or a pelvic inflammatory disease. The other options are all commonly associated with UTIs.

Question 17

The EMT would recognize that the pain associated with a kidney stone is caused by:

Accepted Answer

The pain associated with a kidney stone is caused by the passage of the stone through the ureter, which is a small tube that connects the kidney to the bladder. As the stone moves through the narrow passage of the ureter, it can cause severe pain in the lower back or side, radiating to the groin and genitals. Other symptoms of kidney stones include nausea, vomiting, and blood in the urine.

Question 18

When transporting a weak, pale, and diaphoretic patient you believe to be suffering with a kidney stone, which of the following positions will you place the patient on the stretcher?

Accepted Answer

Placing the patient on the side of the pain can help to relieve the pain of a kidney stone.

Question 19

In the human body, the urethra:

Accepted Answer

The urethra is a tube-like structure that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. It acts as a pathway for the elimination of urine from the body.

Question 20

A 26-year-old female has called 911 because of lower abdominal pain. Your findings are consistent with a urinary tract infection. She has a history of urinary tract infections as well as asthma. Her vital signs are: pulse 116, respirations 14 and adequate, blood pressure 108/56, SpO₂ 99%, and temperature 101.6∘F. Which of the following would be the priority of care?

Accepted Answer

The patient's condition is stable, and her symptoms are consistent with a urinary tract infection. Nonemergent transport is appropriate to ensure she receives further evaluation and treatment.

Quiz 23: Abdominal, Hematologic, Gynecologic, Genitourinary, and Renal Emergencies