You have arrived on the scene of an assault in which several people have been injured. You are directed to assist another crew with a patient who has been shot once. As you approach, you are told that the patient is breathing erratically and ineffectively. You observe the patient being ventilated with a bag-valve mask while another EMT maintains her airway with the jaw-thrust maneuver. Based on your observation, where might you expect that this patient was shot?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Breathing that is erratic and ineffective suggests that the injury is located in the area of the brainstem, which controls breathing. A gunshot wound to the head would be the most likely cause of this type of breathing pattern.

You Have Arrived on the Scene of an Assault in Which