Medical Emergencies
Inflammation of the appendix, often presenting with right lower quadrant pain.
What is appendicitis?
A patient is awake but confused after a seizure. This period is called:
What is the postictal state?
Chest pain that improves with rest and is relieved by nitroglycerin is likely this condition.
What is angina pectoris?
This high-pitched sound indicates upper airway obstruction.
What is stridor?
A conscious, alert patient refusing care must meet this requirement.
What is decision-making capacity (A&Ox4)?
Infection that spreads through the bloodstream, often leading to hypotension and fever.
What is sepsis?
A type of stroke where symptoms fully resolve within 24 hours.
What is a transient ischemic attack (TIA)?
Shock from the heart’s inability to pump blood.
What is cardiogenic shock?
A patient with COPD is likely to present with this retention problem.
What is CO₂ retention?
Unlawful physical contact without consent.
What is battery?
Pain caused by inflammation of the gallbladder after eating a fatty meal.
What is cholecystitis?
A patient experiencing sudden, inappropriate behavior and delusions may be suffering from this type of emergency.
What is a behavioral emergency?
Pink frothy sputum and crackles are signs of this heart-related emergency.
What is congestive heart failure (CHF)?
Life-threatening allergic reaction with airway compromise.
What is anaphylaxis?
What acronym helps structure your narrative in a PCR?
What is SOAP or CHART?
Life-threatening inflammation of the abdominal lining.
What is peritonitis?
Seizure lasting more than 5 minutes or without recovery between episodes.
What is status epilepticus?
A sudden, severe blockage in a coronary artery results in this emergency.
What is myocardial infarction?
A medication used by EMTs to reverse opioid-induced respiratory depression.
What is naloxone (Narcan)?
The most common route of toxic substance exposure.
What is ingestion?
Kidney stone pain that radiates from the flank to the groin is due to this.
What is renal colic?
Name the 3 categories evaluated in the Glasgow Coma Scale.
What are eye opening, verbal response, and motor response?
This shock type results from spinal cord injury disrupting sympathetic nervous function.
What is neurogenic shock?
Sudden collapse and absent breath sounds on one side indicate this emergency.
What is a pneumothorax?
Altering a patient care report can result in this legal consequence.
What is criminal negligence or fraud?