Managing Medical Emergencies Flashcards
7 cards from real ADEX practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Managing Medical Emergencies flashcards as text
A patient taking warfarin presents with prolonged bleeding after a periodontal debridement. Which initial local measure is MOST appropriate?
Answer: Apply a topical thrombin-soaked gauze with direct pressure
Direct pressure with hemostatic gauze (e.g., topical thrombin or oxidized cellulose) is the first local measure before considering systemic interventions.
Which of the following is the MOST common cause of cardiac arrest in the dental office?
Answer: Acute myocardial infarction
Acute myocardial infarction is the most common cause of cardiac arrest in dental settings due to the cardiovascular stress of dental treatment.
When performing rescue breathing for an adult during CPR, each breath should be delivered over how long?
Answer: 1 second
Each rescue breath should be delivered over 1 second, causing visible chest rise, to minimize gastric inflation and interruption of compressions.
A patient with asthma begins wheezing and shows signs of respiratory distress mid-appointment. After positioning the patient upright, what is the next step?
Answer: Assist the patient in using their prescribed bronchodilator inhaler
The first pharmacologic intervention for a mild-to-moderate asthma attack is the patient's own short-acting beta-agonist bronchodilator (e.g., albuterol).
Which symptom would most suggest a TIA (transient ischemic attack) rather than a simple syncopal episode in a dental patient?
Answer: Unilateral facial drooping with slurred speech
Unilateral neurological deficits such as facial drooping, arm weakness, or slurred speech indicate a TIA or stroke rather than vasovagal syncope.
A patient's blood pressure reading is 185/110 mmHg before treatment. According to ADA guidelines, what should the dental hygienist do?
Answer: Reschedule treatment and refer for medical evaluation
A BP ≥180/110 mmHg (Stage 2 hypertensive crisis) requires postponing elective dental treatment and referring the patient for medical evaluation.
Nitroglycerin is contraindicated in a patient who has taken which of the following medications within 24-48 hours?
Answer: Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (e.g., sildenafil)
Concurrent use of nitrates and PDE-5 inhibitors (sildenafil, tadalafil) causes severe, potentially fatal hypotension due to synergistic vasodilation.