Chapter 17

A 41-year-old man presents with slow, irregular breathing; hypotension; and dilated pupils. These signs MOST likely indicate dysfunction of the

• brain stem

• hypothalamus

• cerebrum

• cerebellum

An acute ischemic stroke is caused by

• a ruptured cerebral artery

• increased intracranial pressure

• an acute rise in a person’s blood pressure

• a blocked cerebral artery

A 56-year-old man experienced a sudden, severe headache and then became unresponsive. He has a history of high blood pressure. The MOST likely cause of his condition is a(n):

• hemorrhagic stroke

• acute ischemic stroke

• severe migraine headache

• transient ischemic attack

Unlike an ischemic stroke, a transient ischemic attack is characterized by all of the following, EXCEPT

• symptoms that resolve within 24 hours

• symptoms that persist for longer than

  24 hours

• weakness or paralysis to one side of the body

• an acute onset of confusion and slurred speech

A patient with a suspected stroke presents with slurred speech that is difficult for you to understand. This is referred to as

• aphasia

• dysphasia

• dysphagia

• dysarthria

A type of seizure that is characterized by severe twitching of all the body’s muscles and lasts for several minutes or longer is called a(n):

• partial seizure

• absence seizure

• tonic-clonic seizure

• generalized seizure

The MOST important reason for promptly transporting a stroke patient to the hospital is

• a transient ischemic attack can be ruled out

• medications may be given to reverse the stroke

• the clot in the coronary artery may be dissolved

• he or she needs close blood pressure monitoring

Which of the following are components of the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale

• Which of the following are components of the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale

• Speech, pupil response, arm drift

• Facial symmetry, speech, arm drift

• Pupil response, facial droop, speech

Your patient opens his eyes when you say his name, is making incomprehensible sounds, and withdraws when you pinch his earlobe. What is his GCS score

• 9

• 8

• 11

• 12

If a patient complains of a severe migraine, how should she be transported

• In a brightly lit ambulance so she can see while her vision is impaired

• With loud sirens so she can get to the hospital as soon as possible

• Without lights and sirens

• This patient should not be transported