Paramedics Exam Trauma Assessment and Management 3

Question 1

A patient with a stab wound to the right chest has absent breath sounds on the right, JVD, and hypotension. The FIRST intervention should be:

Accepted Answer

Immediate needle decompression of the right chest

Answer

This triad (absent breath sounds, JVD, hypotension) with a penetrating mechanism indicates tension pneumothorax requiring immediate needle decompression.

Question 2

What is the recommended target systolic BP for permissive hypotension in an adult trauma patient with suspected internal hemorrhage and NO traumatic brain injury?

Accepted Answer

80–90 mmHg

Answer

Permissive hypotension targets a systolic BP of 80–90 mmHg to maintain perfusion while minimizing clot disruption in hemorrhaging patients without TBI.

Question 3

During a mass casualty incident, a patient is found apneic after repositioning the airway. Under START triage, this patient is tagged:

Accepted Answer

Black (expectant/deceased)

Answer

Under START triage, a patient who remains apneic after airway repositioning is tagged black (expectant/deceased) because resources must go to salvageable patients.

Question 4

A patient with a gunshot wound to the neck is speaking in a hoarse voice with subcutaneous emphysema palpable at the neck. The airway should be managed by:

Accepted Answer

Early definitive airway before swelling closes it

Answer

Expanding hematoma and edema from zone II neck trauma can rapidly close the airway; early definitive airway management prevents a surgical emergency.

Question 5

The Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale is NOT part of trauma assessment; however, which trauma tool assesses CNS status in the primary survey?

Accepted Answer

AVPU scale

Answer

The AVPU scale (Alert, Voice, Pain, Unresponsive) provides a rapid CNS assessment during the primary survey's neurological component.

Paramedics Exam Practice Test

Paramedics Exam Practice Test

Paramedics Exam Trauma Assessment and Management 3