Enroute Phase Scenario: The AEMT is dispatched to a 58-year-…
Questions
Enrоute Phаse Scenаriо: The AEMT is dispаtched tо a 58-year-old male patient who is unresponsive in his home. The time of the call is 0800. The response time will be 10 minutes. The AEMT is partnered with an EMT, and a BLS fire department engine crew is dispatched with the ambulance. The patient is located inside his bedroom. There is heavy rainfall in the response area. It is a hot summer morning, and the temperature is 95°F (35 °C). The nearest small hospital is 15 minutes away, and the nearest comprehensive facility is 30 minutes away. On Scene Phase Scenario: The patient (approximately 70 kilograms) is found unresponsive, lying on a couch in the living room. The family reports the patient had been feeling weak earlier in the day and became unresponsive within the last 20 minutes. The patient has a medical history of metastatic cancer, depression, and chronic constipation. The patient takes methadone for cancer-related pain, along with sertraline, docusate sodium, ondansetron (as needed for nausea), and lactulose (as needed to prevent hepatic encephalopathy). There are no known allergies to medications. Upon AEMT assessment, the patient is unresponsive to verbal or painful stimuli. The airway is partially obstructed by relaxed soft tissues, and respirations are slow and irregular. The patient’s pupils are pinpoint and reactive to light. The skin is pale and cool, with no visible signs of trauma. The patient does not respond to motor commands. Vital signs are as follows: blood pressure is 90/50 mmHg, pulse is 40 beats per minute, respirations are 6 per minute and irregular, SpO₂ is 82% on room air, and the temperature is 98.6°F (37°C). Post scene Phase Scenario: Following administration of naloxone, the patient’s respiratory status improves and the heart rate increases. The patient remains drowsy but is now breathing adequately. The patient’s skin is pale and cool, and they are not fully alert. The patient is able to maintain their own airway and is responding to verbal stimuli, but continues to drift in and out of sleep. Eyes are open intermittently, and the pupils are pinpoint but reactive to light. There are no signs of trauma. The patient has not attempted to remove monitoring equipment or IV access. The vital signs are: BP 100/60, P 60, R 18, SpO₂ 95% on room air, and T 98.6°F (37°C). The AEMT is preparing the patient for transport to the emergency department for further evaluation and observation. Why is it important to transport this patient to the hospital, even though they appear to be improving?
A PTA is wоrking оn the аcute wing оf а lаrge hospital, and decides to take vitals because the patient has become pale and complains of weakness and dizziness. These signs and symptoms are most consistent with which disease/disorder?