EMT Exam 4 Review – Shock, Respiratory, Cardiac & Neurologic Emergencies

Vocabulary flashcards that summarize essential EMT concepts drawn from the exam review notes, including shock types, cardiac arrest physiology, respiratory emergencies, cardiac pharmacology, and neurologic conditions.

Shock

A life-threatening state of inadequate tissue perfusion and oxygen delivery.

Hypovolemic Shock

Form of shock caused by fluid or blood loss leading to inadequate circulating volume.

Distributive Shock

Category of shock marked by loss of vascular tone and relative intravascular volume, e.g., septic or anaphylactic shock.

Cardiogenic Shock

Shock resulting from the heart’s inability to pump effectively, often after acute myocardial infarction.

Obstructive Shock

Shock due to mechanical obstruction of blood flow, such as tension pneumothorax or cardiac tamponade.

Anaphylactic Shock

A type of distributive shock caused by severe, systemic allergic reaction; first-line drug is epinephrine.

Neurogenic (Vasogenic) Shock

Distributive shock from loss of sympathetic tone, usually after spinal cord injury.

Septic Shock

Form of distributive shock triggered by severe infection, most commonly pulmonary infection.

Compensated Shock

Early stage when body maintains near-normal blood pressure and vital organ perfusion through sympathetic stimulation.

Decompensated Shock

Later stage when compensatory mechanisms fail and blood pressure falls.

Tachycardia

Early compensatory sign of shock characterized by increased heart rate.

Sudden Death

Death occurring within 1 hour of the onset of symptoms.

Electrical Phase of Cardiac Arrest

First 4 minutes of arrest when the heart is most responsive to defibrillation.

Circulatory Phase of Cardiac Arrest

Phase lasting roughly 4–10 minutes when CPR is critical to perfuse the heart and brain.

Metabolic Phase of Cardiac Arrest

Phase beginning after ~10 minutes when ischemic damage becomes pronounced.

Chain of Survival

Series of actions—early recognition, early CPR, early defibrillation, advanced care, post-resuscitation care—that improve cardiac arrest outcomes.

Ventricular Fibrillation (VF)

Chaotic, uncoordinated electrical activity producing no effective cardiac output; most common initial arrest rhythm.

Pulseless Electrical Activity (PEA)

Organized cardiac rhythm without mechanical pulse or adequate circulation.

Asystole

Complete absence of detectable cardiac electrical activity and contraction.

Biphasic Defibrillator

Defibrillator that delivers shock in two phases, requiring lower energy and causing less myocardial damage.

Automated External Defibrillator (AED)

Portable device that analyzes cardiac rhythm and advises or delivers defibrillation for VF or pulseless VT.

Afterload

Resistance the left ventricle must overcome to eject blood; decreases with vasodilation, increases with vasoconstriction.

Bronchoconstriction

Narrowing of lower-airway bronchioles due to smooth-muscle contraction, causing breathing difficulty.

Wheezing

Musical, whistling lung sound on auscultation, often heard in asthma or COPD.

Hypoxia

State in which the body’s cells are deprived of adequate oxygen supply.

Emphysema

Obstructive lung disease featuring destruction of alveolar walls and decreased respiratory surface area.

Seesaw Breathing

Sign of extreme inspiratory effort in infants where chest retracts and abdomen rises.

Metered-Dose Inhaler (MDI)

Hand-held device delivering aerosolized bronchodilator medications such as albuterol.

Bronchodilator

Medication that relaxes bronchial smooth muscle; examples include albuterol and metaproterenol.

Albuterol

Common short-acting beta-2 agonist bronchodilator used for asthma or COPD exacerbations.

Tricuspid Valve

Heart valve between right atrium and right ventricle preventing backflow.

Sinoatrial (SA) Node

Primary pacemaker of the heart located in the right atrium.

Atrioventricular (AV) Node

Conduction node that delays impulse before it enters ventricles.

Bundle of His

Specialized conduction fibers carrying impulses from AV node to bundle branches.

Purkinje Fibers

Network of fibers distributing electrical impulses through ventricular myocardium.

Coronary Arteries

Vessels branching off the aorta supplying oxygenated blood to the heart muscle.

Perfusion

Delivery of oxygen and nutrients to tissues and removal of wastes via the bloodstream.

Nitroglycerin

Vasodilator used to relieve anginal chest pain; contraindicated if systolic BP < 90 mmHg or recent use of erectile-dysfunction drugs.

Angina Pectoris

Transient chest discomfort due to myocardial oxygen demand exceeding supply without cell death.

Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI)

Death of heart muscle tissue from prolonged ischemia; also called heart attack.

Systolic Blood Pressure

Pressure exerted in arteries during ventricular contraction; top number of BP reading.

Headache Types

Categories include tension, cluster, and vascular (migraine); mastoid is not a recognized type.

Stroke (Cerebrovascular Accident)

Interruption of cerebral blood flow causing neurologic deficit lasting >24 h.

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)

Brief neurologic deficit from temporary cerebral ischemia that resolves within 24 h (often <3 h).

Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale

Assessment of facial droop, arm drift, and abnormal speech to screen for stroke.

F.A.S.T. Mnemonic

Stroke screening tool: Face droop, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call 911.

Seizure

Sudden, uncontrolled electrical discharge in brain causing alterations in behavior, sensation, or consciousness.

Epilepsy

Chronic neurologic disorder characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures.

Aura

Subjective sensation preceding a seizure, such as a smell, sound, or visual disturbance.

Tonic Phase

Initial phase of generalized seizure marked by muscle rigidity and possible back arching.

Clonic Phase

Phase of generalized seizure featuring rhythmic muscle jerking.

Postictal State

Recovery period after a seizure when patient may be confused, fatigued, or unresponsive.

Status Epilepticus

Seizure lasting >30 min or two or more seizures without full recovery between episodes.

Febrile Seizure

Seizure in young children triggered by rapid rise in body temperature.

Absence (Petit Mal) Seizure

Brief lapse of consciousness with blank stare, common in children.

Hemiparesis

Weakness affecting one side of the body, often seen after stroke.

Syncope

Sudden, temporary loss of consciousness due to reduced cerebral perfusion; fainting.

Dilantin (Phenytoin)

Anticonvulsant medication commonly prescribed for seizure control.

Phenobarbital

Barbiturate anticonvulsant used for seizure prophylaxis.

Recruitment (Seizure Theory)

Spread of excessive electrical activity to neighboring neurons, expanding the seizure focus.

Myoclonic Seizure

Brief, shock-like muscle jerks; typically self-limited and requires minimal field care.

Psychic Seizure

Partial seizure that alters emotions, memory, or thought processes without major motor involvement.

Autonomic Seizure

Seizure that produces changes in autonomic functions, such as heart rate or GI sensations.

Bronchoconstrictor vs. Bronchodilator

Bronchoconstrictor narrows airways; bronchodilator (e.g., albuterol) widens them to ease breathing.

Tachycardia (MDI Side Effect)

Increased heart rate commonly seen after inhaled beta-agonist administration.