UTC Emergency Procedures & Response 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient undergoing abdominal ultrasound suddenly becomes unresponsive and pulseless. What is the sonographer's immediate first action?
- Call for help and begin CPR (Correct answer)
- Continue the scan and alert physician after
- Administer oxygen via nasal cannula
- Check blood pressure with the ultrasound transducer
Correct answer: Call for help and begin CPR
An unresponsive, pulseless patient requires immediate activation of emergency response and initiation of CPR.
Question 2: During a Doppler study, you identify a newly discovered large abdominal aortic aneurysm measuring 7.5 cm with suspected rupture signs. What is the priority action?
- Complete the full protocol before notifying the physician
- Immediately notify the referring physician and prepare patient for emergent care (Correct answer)
- Schedule a follow-up CT scan
- Document findings and send the report at end of shift
Correct answer: Immediately notify the referring physician and prepare patient for emergent care
A ruptured or near-ruptured AAA is life-threatening and requires immediate physician notification for emergent surgical intervention.
Question 3: A patient reports severe chest pain and diaphoresis during a cardiac echo. The sonographer should:
- Ask the patient to breathe slowly and continue imaging
- Stop the examination, call for emergency assistance, and stay with the patient (Correct answer)
- Administer nitroglycerin from the crash cart
- Reposition the patient to a left lateral decubitus position and proceed
Correct answer: Stop the examination, call for emergency assistance, and stay with the patient
Chest pain with diaphoresis may indicate acute MI; the exam must stop and emergency help must be summoned immediately.
Question 4: Which of the following is the correct sequence for using an AED on a patient in cardiac arrest?
- Power on, attach pads, analyze rhythm, deliver shock if advised (Correct answer)
- Attach pads, power on, deliver shock, analyze rhythm
- Deliver shock, attach pads, power on, analyze rhythm
- Power on, deliver shock, attach pads, analyze rhythm
Correct answer: Power on, attach pads, analyze rhythm, deliver shock if advised
AED use follows the sequence: power on, attach pads to the patient, allow rhythm analysis, then deliver a shock if indicated.
Question 5: A patient with a known latex allergy is scheduled for a transrectal ultrasound. What precaution is essential?
- Use a latex-free transducer cover and notify the care team (Correct answer)
- Proceed normally since latex risk is minimal for ultrasound
- Administer antihistamine after the procedure
- Use extra gel to act as a barrier against latex
Correct answer: Use a latex-free transducer cover and notify the care team
Latex-containing probe covers can trigger anaphylaxis in latex-allergic patients; latex-free covers must be used and the allergy communicated to the team.
Question 6: During a carotid duplex study, the patient develops sudden left-sided facial droop and slurred speech. These signs are most consistent with:
- Vasovagal syncope
- Acute stroke (Correct answer)
- Hypoglycemic episode
- Panic attack
Correct answer: Acute stroke
Sudden facial droop and slurred speech are classic FAST signs of acute stroke requiring immediate emergency response.
Question 7: What is the recommended ratio of chest compressions to rescue breaths for a single adult rescuer performing CPR?
- 15:2
- 30:2 (Correct answer)
- 5:1
- 10:2
Correct answer: 30:2
Current AHA guidelines recommend a 30:2 compression-to-ventilation ratio for single-rescuer adult CPR.
UTC Emergency Procedures & Response 2
A patient undergoing abdominal ultrasound suddenly becomes unresponsive and pulseless.
What is the sonographer's immediate first action?