Signs & Symptoms
A patient has a seal-bark cough and inspiratory stridor.
What is croup?
A musical sound heard primarily during exhalation.
What is wheezing?
The treatment of choice for anaphylaxis.
What is epinephrine?
The most common cause of bronchiolitis in infants.
What is RSV?
A patient was eating steak and suddenly cannot speak or cough.
What is a complete airway obstruction?
Gas exchange occurs in these structures.
What are the alveoli?
A child is drooling, sitting in the tripod position, and refuses to swallow.
What is epiglottitis?
This abnormal breath sound is the hallmark of upper airway narrowing.
What is stridor?
This respiratory device may be indicated for acute pulmonary edema if allowed by protocol.
What is CPAP?
This disease commonly causes a barrel chest, pursed-lip breathing, and chronic smoking history.
What is COPD?
Three members of a family complain of headaches, nausea, and shortness of breath after using a generator indoors.
What is carbon monoxide poisoning?
The brainstem primarily regulates breathing by monitoring this substance.
What is carbon dioxide (CO₂)?
A patient coughs violently and then makes a loud "whoop" when inhaling.
What is pertussis (whooping cough)?
Fluid inside the alveoli commonly produces these sounds.
What are crackles (rales)?
An unconscious patient has vomitus obstructing the airway. This intervention comes first.
What is suctioning the airway?
This infection often presents with anosmia along with respiratory symptoms.
What is COVID-19?
A patient is breathing 36 times/min, is anxious, and has tingling in both hands. Your first priority is to determine this.
What is whether the hyperventilation is caused by a life-threatening illness or anxiety?
This assessment tool is designed specifically for patients with shortness of breath.
What is the PASTE assessment?
A patient suddenly develops dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain, tachycardia, and hemoptysis.
What is a pulmonary embolism?
This condition frequently presents with absent or markedly diminished breath sounds on one side.
What is spontaneous pneumothorax?
A conscious asthma patient has her prescribed inhaler available and meets all medication-assistance criteria.
What is assist with the prescribed MDI?
This disease can remain inactive for years before symptoms appear.
What is tuberculosis (TB)?
A COPD patient suddenly becomes more short of breath than normal and has his prescribed inhaler available.
What is assist with the inhaler while administering oxygen and continuing assessment?
A patient with chronic CO₂ retention may rely on this mechanism to stimulate breathing.
What is hypoxic drive?
Pink, frothy sputum and crackles in both lungs strongly suggest this condition.
What is acute pulmonary edema?
An EMT should avoid diagnosing solely by lung sounds because of this important principle.
What is "Treat the patient, not the lung sounds."
This intervention should NOT be performed on a suspected epiglottitis patient.
What is placing anything in the mouth (including attempting an OPA or aggressive airway manipulation)?
This disease causes inflammation of the bronchioles with mucus production and airway spasm.
What is asthma?
A patient has severe respiratory distress after a bee sting, widespread hives, wheezing, and hypotension.
What is anaphylaxis?
A dyspneic patient has unilateral absent breath sounds, sudden pleuritic chest pain, and no history of trauma. The most likely diagnosis is:
What is a spontaneous pneumothorax?