EMT Cardiology TestPrep Questions

A 44-year-old male complains of dizziness and lightheadedness. His BP is 88/62 mm Hg; his heart rate is 190 beats/min and weak; and his skin is cool, clammy, and pale. Which of the following would BEST explain why his BP is low?

Decreased ventricular filling time

A 45-year-old woman calls EMS because of severe chest pain. When you arrive, she advises you that she has taken two of her husband's nitroglycerin tablets without relief. Her BP is 110/60 mm Hg, her pulse is 100 beats/min, her respirations are 16 breaths/min, and her oxygen saturation is 95%. You should:

Transport the patient without delay and monitor her blood pressure en route

A 49-year-old woman presents with a headache, nausea, and ringing in her ears. She is conscious and alert and states that she has hypertension and type 2 diabetes. Her BP is 202/114 mm Hg, her pulse is 60 beats/min, and her respirations are 16 breaths/min. What should you do?

Prepare for immediate transport

A 50-year-old man presents with crushing chest pain that suddenly began about 30 minutes ago. He is diaphoretic and anxious. The EMT should:

Administer chewable aspirin

A 50-year-old man's defibrillator has fired twice within the last hour. He is conscious and alert and complains of a "sore chest". Further assessment reveals that his chest pain is reproducible to palpation and is localized in the area of his implanted defibrillator. Treatment for him should include:

Prompt transport with continuous monitoring en route

A 50-year-old man with a history of hypertension began experiencing chest pressure while mowing his lawn. After taking baby aspirin and resting for approximately 10 minutes, the pressure in his chest completely resolved. Which of the following would BEST explain this?

The cessation of exertion decreased the workload of the heart and blood flow around a coronary artery clot improved

A 56-year-old man is found to be pulseless and apneic. His wife states that he collapsed about 5 minutes ago. As you partner gets the AED from the ambulance, you should:

Begin CPR, starting with chest compressions

A 57-year-old male presents with fli-like symptoms. He is conscious and alert; his skin is pink, warm, and dry; and he denies chest pain or respiratory distress. During your assessment, you cannot feel radial or carotid pulses, and are unable to obtain a blood pressure. Which of the following would MOST likely explain this?

He has a left ventricular assist device

A 58-year-old man is found unresponsive by his wife. According to his wife, he was complaining of a "dull ache" in his chest the day before, but refused to allow her to call 911. His blood pressure is 70/50 mm Hg, his pulse is 120 beats/min and weak, and his respirations are 28 breaths/min and labored. Further assessment reveals that his skin is cool, pale, and clammy. You should suspect:

Cardiogenic shock

A 60-year-old man is in cardiac arrest. You begin CPR while your partner applies the AED. hat should you do if you receive a no shock message?

Resume CPR, starting with chest compressions

A 60-year-old woman presents with chest discomfort, confusion, and weakness. The patient's husband tells you the she vomited once before EMS arrival. The patient's BP is 70/40 mm Hg, her pulse is 45 beats/min and weak, and her respirations are 14 breaths/min and unlabored. Which of the following is MOST likely the cause of her hypotension?

Bradycardia

A 62-year-old male with a history of coronary artery disease began experiencing chest pain and nausea while on his daily jog. After sitting down and resting for 5 minutes, his pain and nausea resolve. Which of the following BEST describes this patient's condition?

Stable angina pectoris

A 65-year-old man has generalized weakness and chest pressure. He has a bottle of prescribed nitroglycerin, but states that he has not taken any of his medication. The EMT should:

Administer up to 325 mg of aspirin if the patient is not allergic to it

A 65-year-old woman complains of severe chest pain that radiates to her back, in between her shoulder blades. She tells you that it is the most severe pain she has ever experienced, and that it has been intense since it began. Her past medical history includes hypertension. When you palpate her radial pulses, you note that they are unequal in strength. What should you suspect?

Acute aortic dissection

A 66-year-old female presents with an acute onset of confusion, slurred speech, and an inability to move her right arm and leg. Her airway is patent and she is breathing adequately. Which of the following is the MOST important initial information to obtain about this patient?

When she was last seen normal

A 67-year-old woman presents with acute weakness and nausea. She is conscious and alert and her skin is cool and clammy. Her BP is 140/88 mm Hg, pulse is 70 beats/min and regular, and respirations are 16 breaths/min and unlabored. Her medical history includes hypertension and diabetes, and she advises that she has an implanted pacemaker. What should you suspect?

Acute myocardial infarction

A 69-year-old man is unresponsive. He has a weak carotid pulse at 40 beats/min and his skin is cool and pale. From this information, the EMT should conclude that:

His cardiac output is reduced

A 71-year-oldwoman presents with an acute onset of confusion, slurred speech, and left-sided weakness. She is conscious and her airway is patent. Her BP is 180/94 mm Hg, her pulse is 70 beats/min and irregular, her respirations are 14 breaths/min and unlabored, and her oxygen saturation is 97% on room air. What should you do?

Keep her sitting up and transport without delay

A 72-year-old female complains of dyspnea that woke her up from her sleep. Her feet and ankles are swollen, and auscultation of her lungs reveals crackles to both lung bases. She has a history of hypertension, type II diabetes, and a heart attack 2 years ago. Her BP is 170/94 mm Hg, her pulse is 110 beats/min and irregular, her respirations are 24 breaths/min and labored, and her oxygen saturation is 85% on room air. What should you suspect?

Congestive heart failure

An 88-year-old female experienced a syncopal episode. She is now conscious, but complains of dizziness and generalized weakness, and her pulse is 170 beats/min and irregular. The EMT should recognize that this patient's syncopal episode was MOST likely caused by:

An acute cardiac dysrhythmia

The AED analyzes your pulseless and apneic patient's cardiac rhythm and advises that a shock is NOT indicated. You should:

Resume CPR, starting with chest compressions

After administering nitroglycerin to a patient for chest discomfort, it is MOST important for you to:

Reassess the patient's blood pressure within 5 minutes

After applying the AED to an adult patient in cardiac arrest, you analyze her cardiac rhythm and receive a shock advised message. Emergency medical responders, who arrived at the scene before you, tell you that bystander CPR was not in progress upon their arrival. You should:

Deliver the shock as indicated followed by immediate CPR

After attaching the AED and pushing the analyze button on an adult patient in cardiac arrest, the AED states that a shock is advised. Which cardiac rhythm is the patient MOST likely in:

Ventricular fibrillation

After defibrillating a man in cardiac arrest, you resume CPR. As you are about to reanalyze his cardiac rhythm 2 minutes later, your partner tells you she can definitely feel a strong carotid pulse. You should:

Assess the patient's breathing effort

After delivering one shock with the AED and performing 2 minutes of CPR on a woman in cardiac arrest, you reanalyze her cardiac rhythm and receive a no shock advised message. This means that:

She is not in a shockable rhythm

After restoring a pulse in a cardiac arrest patient, you begin immediate transport. While en route to the hospital, the patient goes back into cardiac arrest. You should:

Advise your partner to stop the ambulance

All of the following are components of the Cincinnati Stroke Scale, EXCEPT:

Pupil size

Facial droop

Speech patter

Arm movement

Pupil size

Aspirin is beneficial to patients experiencing an acute coronary syndrome because it:

Prevents a clot from getting bigger

Aspirin may be contraindicated in patients with:

Stomach ulcers

At the end of ventricular relaxation, the left ventricle contains 110 mL of blood. This is referred to as the:

Preload

Because of the property of automaticity, cardiac muscle cells are able to:

Contract spontaneously without a stimulus from a nerve source

Blood is returned from the kidneys to the heart by way of the:

Inferior vena cava

By which of the following mechanisms does nitroglycerin relieve cardiac-related chest pain or discomfort?

Vasodilation and increased myocardial oxygen supply

Chest compression effectiveness is MOST effectively assessed by:

Palpating for a carotid pulse with each compression

The chest pain associated with an acute coronary syndrome is often described as:

Pressure

Common signs and symptoms of a hypertensive emergency include:

Ringing in the ears, headache, and epistaxis

The coronary arteries fill with blood when the:

Aortic valve closes

During your assessment of a 70-year-old man with crushing chest pain, you note that his blood pressure is 80/50 mm Hg. Your MOST important actions should be to:

Transport without delay

The energy setting for a biphasic AED:

Is manufacturer specific

Following administration of nitroglycerin to a man with crushing chest pressure, he experiences a significant increase in his heart rate. This is MOST likely the result of:

A drop in blood pressure

Following return of spontaneous circulation, the patient remains apneic. The EMT should:

Ventilate at 12 breaths/min and maintain an oxygen saturation of 95% to 99%

Freshly oxygenated blood returns to the heart via the:

A. Aorta

B. Vena cava

C. Pulmonary vein

D. Pulmonary artery

Pulmonary veins

How can you help maximize cardiac output during CPR?

Allow the chest to fully recoil during compressions

In addition to chest pain or discomfort, a patient experiencing an acute coronary syndrome would MOST likely present with:

Ashen skin color, diaphoresis, and anxiety

In most people, the inferior aspect of the left ventricle receives its blood supply from the:

Right coronary artery

In patients with heart disease, acute coronary syndrome is MOST often the result of:

Atherosclerosis

In which of the following patients is nitroglycerin contraindicated?

53-year-oold male with chest discomfort, diaphoresis, a blood pressure of 146/66 mm Hg, and regular use of Levitra

In which of the following situations would nitroglycerin MOST likely be administered?

History of cardiac bypass surgery

Ischemic heart disease is a condition in which:

There is a decrease in blood flow to one or more portions of the heart muscle

The M+EMT is treating a man with chest pain and has assisted him with his nitroglycerin. Which of the following should the EMT anticipate during reassessment of this patient?

Decreased blood pressure

The maximum pressure generated in the arms and legs during contraction of the left ventricle is called:

Systolic blood pressure

A middle-aged female with a history of hypertension and high cholesterol complains of chest discomfort. She asks you to take her to the hospital where her personal physician practices, which is 15 miles away. Her blood pressure is 130/70 mm Hg, pulse is 84 beats/min and regular, and respirations are 18 breaths/min and unlabored. Which of the following actions is clearly NOT appropriate for this patient?

Allowing her to walk to the ambulance

A middle-aged male was found unresponsive by his wife. When you arrive at the scene, you assess the patient and determine that he is apneic and pulseless. You should:

Begin CPR starting with chest compressions, apply the AED as soon as possible, and request backup

A middle-aged woman took three of her prescribed nitroglycerin tablets after she began experiencing chest pain. She complains of a bad headache and is still experiencing chest pain. You should assume that:

She has ongoing cardiac ischemia

The middle, muscular layer of the heart is called the:

Myocardium

The MOST important initial treatment for a patient whose cardiac arrest was witnessed is:

High-quality CPR

The myocardium receives its blood supply from the coronary arteries that branch directly from the:

Aorta

The pain associated with acute aortic dissection:

Is typically described as a stabbing or tearing sensation

A patient reports pain in the upper midabdominal area. This region of the abdomen is called the:

Epigastrium

A patient who is experiencing an acute myocardial infarction:

Has chest pain or discomfort that does not change with each breath

A patient whose artificial pacemaker has failed would MOST likely experience:

Weakness and bradycardia

Prior to administering nitroglycerin to a patient with chest pain, you should:

Obtain vital signs to detect hypotension

Prior to being oxygenated in the lungs, blood passes through the:

Tricuspid and pulmonic valves

A rapid heart rhythm, usually at a rate of 150 to 200 beats/min, that originates in the ventricles and can cause hemodynamic compromise is called:

Vantricular tachycardia

Shortly after assisting a 60-year-old with her second nitroglycerin treatment, she tells you that she is lightheaded and feels as if she is going to faint. Her symptoms are most likely due to:

Low blood pressure

Sudden cardiac arrest in the adult population MOST often is the result of:

A cardiac dysrhythmia

Switching compressions during two-rescuer CPR:

Should occur every 2 minutes throughout the arrest

Tachycardia can be detrimental to a patient who is experiencing a cardiac problem because it causes:

Increased cardiac oxygen usage and demand

Treatment for congestive heart failure and shortness of breath may include:

Up to three doses of sublingual nitroglycerin

Use of an AED is contraindicated in patients who:

Are apneic and have a weak carotid pulse

The wall that separates the left and right sides of the heart is called the:

Septum

What occurs during the recoil of the chest in between compressions?

A vacuum is created and blood returns to the heart

When an electrical impulse reaches the atrioventricular node, it is briefly delayed so that:

Ventricular filling can occur

When an error occurs while using the AED, it is MOST often the result of:

Battery failure secondary to operator error

When applying ECG electrodes, the negative (white) lead is placed on the:

Right arm

When assessing a patient who complains of chest pain, which of the following questions would you ask to assess the "R" in OPQRST?

Is the pain in one place or does it move aorund?

When assessing a patient who has stroke-like symptoms, you should recall that:

The patient may be unable to communicate, but can often understand

When the vital organs of an 85-year-old patient need additional blood flow, the heart may not be able to meet the increased need because:

The reserve capacity of the heart is reduced as a person ages

When treating a patient with chest pain, pressure, or discomfort, you should FIRST:

Place the patient in a position of comfort

Which off the following structures is the primary pacemaker, which sets the normal rate for the heart?

Sinoatrial node

Which of the following assessment findings is LEAST suggestive of a cardiac problem?

Palpable pain to the chest

Which of the following clinical presentations is MOST consistent with right heart failure?

Peripheral edema and jugular venous distention

Which of the following clinical signs should alert the EMT that a patient has left heart failure?

Dyspnea on exertion

Which of the following clinical signs would indicate increased sympathetic nervous system activity?

Tachycardia

Which of the following describes pulseless electrical activity (PEA)?

Any organized cardiac rhythm, slow or fast, that does not produce a palpable pulse

Which of the following describes the MOST appropriate method of performing chest compressions on an adult patient in cardiac arrest?

Compress the chest at least 2 inches, allow full recoil of the chest after each compression, minimize interruptions in chest compressions

Which of the following is a common side effect of nitroglycerin?

Headache

Which of the following is an abnormal finding when using the Cincinnati Stroke Scale to assess a patient who presents with signs of stroke?

One arm drifts down compared with the other side

Which of the following is an expected finding in patients who have a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) with a continuous flow pump?

Absence of pulses

Which of the following is MOST indicative of a primary cardiac problem?

Irregular pulse

Which of the following is the BEST candidate for fibrinolytic therapy?

A 50-year-oldman who has slurred speech and left arm weakness that started 45 minutes ago; history of a heart attack 8 months ago

Which of the following is the BEST candidate for the administration of nitroglycerin?

A woman with chest pain, prescribed nitroglycerin, and a blood pressure of 104/76 mm Hg

Which of the following is the MOST appropriate response when a patient with chest pain asks you if her or she is having a heart attack?

I don't know, but we will take good care of you

Which of the following is the MOST detrimental effect that tachycardia can have on a patient experiencing a cardiac problem?

Increased oxygen demand

Which of the following patients would MOST likely present with vague or unusual symptoms of an acute myocardial infarction?

72-year-old female with diabetes

Which of the following questions would be MOST appropriate to ask when assessing a patient with chest pain?

What does the pain feel like?

Which of the following statements regarding one-rescuer CPR is correct?

The chest should be allowed to fully recoil after each compression

Which of the following statements regarding sudden cardiac arrest and ventricular fibrillation is correct?

For each minute that defibrillation is delayed, the chance of survival decreases by as much as 10%

Which of the following statements regarding the AED is correct?

AEDs can safely be used in infants and children less than 8 years of age