Assessment of a hypoxic patient with a history of lung disease reveals him to be using well-developed accessory muscles to exhale. As an EMT, you should recognize that the patient:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The use of accessory muscles to exhale indicates that the patient is exerting extra effort to breathe, which can be a sign of respiratory distress and potential failure, especially in the context of a pre-existing lung condition. This suggests that the patient is struggling and may not be able to maintain this level of effort, putting him at risk of respiratory failure.

Assessment of a Hypoxic Patient with a History of Lung