You are treating a 17-year-old patient who fell out of a tree from a height of approximately 6-8 feet and landed against a wooden picket fence that was near the tree trunk. The patient landed with his right lateral chest striking the fence. The patient is alert and oriented, complains of respiratory distress, and has absent breath sounds over his right thorax. The vital signs reveal a blood pressure of 112/72 mmHg, a heart rate of 102 beats/min and regular, respirations of 20 breaths/min, pulse oximetry of 90% on ambient air, and intact peripheral perfusion. Your partner asks you if he should call for ALS intercept. You respond "yes" for which reason?
A) The patient's fall height was "critical"
B) The patient has a narrow pulse pressure
C) The patient's heart rate is more than 100 beats/min
D) You suspect the patient may have a pneumothorax
D) You suspect the patient may have a pneumothorax
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A patient with which condition is a suitable candidate for home care ventilation?
a. Flail chest due to trauma b. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis c. Severe exacerbation of asthma d. Acute respiratory distress syndrome
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Select the word that is spelled correctly
A) ?syndrome B) ?syndrom C) ?sindrom D) ?syndome
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