Western Biomedical Concepts for Acupuncturists Flashcards

Shortly after needling points over the upper back, a patient reports sudden shortness of breath and sharp chest pain worse on inspiration. Which complication is most likely?

Answer: Pneumothorax

Deep needling over the thorax can puncture the pleura, causing pneumothorax with sudden dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain.

What is the normal resting heart rate range for a healthy adult?

Answer: 60-100 beats per minute

A normal adult resting heart rate is 60-100 bpm; below 60 is bradycardia and above 100 is tachycardia.

Under ACC/AHA guidelines, which blood pressure reading indicates a hypertensive crisis that requires immediate medical attention?

Answer: Above 180/120 mmHg

Readings above 180 systolic and/or 120 diastolic define a hypertensive crisis.

A patient taking warfarin asks which lab test monitors their anticoagulation. Which test is it?

Answer: INR (International Normalized Ratio)

Warfarin therapy is monitored with the PT/INR, usually targeting 2.0-3.0 for most indications.

Bell's palsy, which acupuncturists commonly treat, involves dysfunction of which cranial nerve?

Answer: Cranial nerve VII (facial)

Bell's palsy is an acute peripheral palsy of the facial nerve (CN VII) that causes one-sided facial weakness.

Which spinal nerve roots form the sciatic nerve?

Answer: L4-S3

The sciatic nerve comes from the L4 through S3 nerve roots of the sacral plexus.

A patient has unilateral calf swelling, warmth, and tenderness after a long flight. What is the most appropriate action?

Answer: Refer immediately for evaluation of possible deep vein thrombosis

These are classic signs of DVT, which can embolize to the lungs, so the patient needs urgent medical referral and no local manipulation.