Practice Quiz

NREMT Paramedic Trauma Exam Prep

Category - Paramedic Trauma

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What is the best management for a patient with flail chest who is deteriorating and developing severe respiratory distress?
  1. Analgesia to reduce the pain of respiration
  2. Needle thoracostomy to reduce internal pressure
  3. Encouragement to hold their breath to increase the internal pressure
  4. CPAP or positive pressure by BVM to internally splint the injury
Explanation
Answer: D- Patients that are starting to develop severe respiratory distress require ventilation assistance in order to avoid complete respiratory compromise.

By applying positive airway pressure carefully, the flail segment can become splinted internally, allowing for better ventilation. Analgesics would have been more applicable before a patient reaches this point. Needle thoracostomy would not help this patient.
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