Emergency Care, 13e (Limmer et al.)
Chapter 18 Cardiac Emergencies
1) Which of the following is the general term used to refer to a problem with the heart?
A) Myocardial infarction
B) Cardiac dysrhythmia
C) Cardiac compromise
D) Congestive heart failure
Objective: 18.1
2) What is NOT part of the cardiovascular system?
A) Arteries
B) Veins
C) Venules
D) Hormones
Objective: 18.2
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3) Which of the following may be a symptom of a problem with the heart?
A) Mild chest discomfort
B) Severe, crushing pain in the chest
C) Nausea, with or without vomiting
D) All of the above
Objective: 18.3
4) Which of the following BEST describes a fluttering sensation in the chest?
A) Pulseless electrical activity of the heart
B) Palpitations
C) Dysrhythmia
D) Tachycardia
Objective: 18.3
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5) Which of the following statements concerning heart attacks and cardiac arrest is NOT true?
A) Many patients may mistake their symptoms for other causes such as indigestion.
B) Some patients who have heart attacks live active and healthy lifestyles.
C) Heart attacks present differently among women and men.
D) The most common initial rhythm in sudden cardiac death is asystole.
Objective: 18.3
6) You are treating a patient with signs and symptoms of a myocardial infarction (MI). What is
the most important drug you should administer?
A) Oxygen
B) Albuterol
C) Epinephrine auto-injector (Epi-Pen®)
D) Aspirin
Objective: 18.4
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7) You are on-scene with a 48-year-old unresponsive male patient. Bystanders state he
complained of chest pain and then suddenly collapsed. Vital signs are blood pressure 68/42,
pulse 36, and respiratory rate 3. He is unresponsive to painful stimuli. After performing the
primary assessment and treating all life threats, what is your next intervention?
A) Insert an oral airway.
B) Administer high-concentration oxygen at 15 lpm by bag-valve mask.
C) Package the patient for rapid transport.
D) Apply the AED.
Objective: 18.4
8) Assuming your protocol allows the administration of nitroglycerin when certain conditions
exist, what is the maximum number of tablets to be administered in the prehospital setting?
A) 2
B) 3
C) 4
D) 1
Objective: 18.5
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9) Which of the following is the beneficial action of nitroglycerin in some cardiac emergencies?
A) It relaxes blood vessels throughout the body.
B) It dilates only the coronary arteries.
C) It increases the strength with which the ventricles contract.
D) It slows down the heart.
Objective: 18.5
10) Which of the following statements regarding the administration of nitroglycerin tablets is
true?
A) An increase in blood pressure should be expected.
B) The patient may complain of a headache following administration.
C) If a patient’s pulse rate changes following nitroglycerin administration, it indicates an allergic
reaction.
D) It takes 20 to 30 minutes for nitroglycerin to have an effect.
Objective: 18.5
11) Which of the following is the EMT’s role in caring for a patient with chest pain?
A) Treat the patient as though he were having a heart attack.
B) Provide automatic external defibrillation.
C) Make an interpretation of the patient’s cardiac rhythm.
D) Determine the cause of the patient’s chest pain.
Objective: 18.6
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12) In which of the following situations would the administration of aspirin to a cardiac patient
be prohibited?
A) The patient does not currently take aspirin.
B) The patient has a history of asthma.
C) The patient has a diastolic blood pressure greater than 90 mmHg.
D) The patient feels dizzy.
Objective: 18.6
13) Which of the following is the name of the condition in which fatty deposits form in the inner
lining of the arteries?
A) Arteriosclerosis
B) Coronary artery disease
C) Coronary thrombosis
D) Aneurysm
Objective: 18.7
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14) You are treating a male patient with chest pain caused by the complete occlusion of one of
the coronary arteries. What would you most likely expect with this patient?
A) His pain will go away with oxygen.
B) His pain will be reduced with aspirin.
C) His pain will be alleviated with nitroglycerin.
D) His pain will not be alleviated with any of the above medications.
Objective: 18.7
15) A weakened area of an artery that balloons out and may rupture, causing catastrophic
bleeding, is called:
A) angina.
B) asystole.
C) aneurysm.
D) angioplasty.
Objective: 18.7
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16) Which of the following cardiac dysrhythmias cannot produce a pulse?
A) Ventricular dysrhythmia
B) Ventricular fibrillation
C) Bradycardia
D) Tachycardia
Objective: 18.7
17) What is NOT a result of a mechanical malfunction of the heart?
A) Cardiac arrest
B) Dysrhythmia
C) Shock
D) Pulmonary edema
Objective: 18.7
18) You suspect that your patient is suffering from angina pectoris. What signs or symptoms
would you expect to see with this condition?
A) Chest pain that is relieved with nitroglycerin
B) Chest pain that is not relieved with nitroglycerin
C) Chest pain that is not relieved with rest
D) Chest pain that radiates to the leg
Objective: 18.7
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19) Which of the following statements regarding angina pectoris is true?
A) It can be brought on by exertion or stress.
B) It is generally relieved by over-the-counter medications.
C) It results in death of a smaller portion of myocardium than does a heart attack.
D) It generally lasts 30 to 60 minutes.
Objective: 18.7
20) Which of the following is typical of angina pectoris?
A) Does not respond to nitroglycerin
B) Lasts 10 to 30 seconds
C) Does not present following stress
D) Often subsides with rest
Objective: 18.7
21) Which of the following is the beneficial action of a beta blocker medication?
A) Causes vasoconstriction, increasing the blood pressure
B) Slows the heart rate
C) Increases the amount of oxygen needed by the myocardium
D) Increases the strength of myocardial contraction
Objective: 18.7
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22) Which of the following is the result of a portion of the heart muscle dying due to a lack of
oxygen?
A) Angina pectoris
B) Myocardial infarction
C) Cardiac arrest
D) Heart failure
Objective: 18.7
23) You respond to the scene of a 56-year-old obese female complaining of respiratory distress.
She states that she has been feeling weak and a “little sick” for the past two days but the
respiratory distress has been getting progressively worse for the past several hours. She states she
has “heart problems,” suffers from high blood pressure, and takes a “water pill.” She is afebrile
and has coarse crackles (rales) bilaterally. What is most likely the cause of her respiratory
distress?
A) Pneumonia
B) Influenza
C) Aortic aneurysm
D) Congestive heart failure
Objective: 18.7
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