AEA 01/2014

CLASS TEST 04

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Read the questions thoroughly
2. Answer all the questions on the answer sheet provided
3. Write neatly and legibly ensuring that your answers are clearly numbered.
4. Any attempt at examination fraud will result in immediate disqualification from the
assessment process.
PAGES: 3 (Including cover)
MARKS 82 Marks
TIME: 82 Minutes
NUMBER OF PAGES:
13 including cover page and answer sheets MARKS: Marks
PASS MARK: 50%

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AEA 01/2014
CLASS TEST 04

QUESTION 1

CARDIAC (29Marks)

1. Your patient has a blood pressure of 110/50mmhg. Work out this patients map and show all
your calculations. (5)

2. An elderly patient (84 years) has fallen. He has no severe external bleeding and is alert to
your arrival. Skin colour, condition and temperature – pale, diaphoretic, warm. Vital signs:
Respirations- 25 b/min, Pulse- 100b/min, Blood Pressure- 80/50, HGT- 4 mmol/l, Saturation
of 90%. He is a known cardiac patient on ECOTRIN, ZOCOR, ADALAT 30XL,
MODURETIC. You estimate his weight to be 65kg.

2.1 Explain fluid resuscitation of this patient. Include your fluid of choice, administration set and
the intravenous catheter (jelco) of choice as well as bolus doses.(5)

3. What are the 5 important points to remember when trying to interpret an ECG? (5)

4. What 2 things would you take into account before you declare a patient dead? (2)

5. Name each of the reversible causes of Pulseless Electrical Activity (PEA) and what actions
you would perform to correct them. (12) 0.5 mark per cause; 0.5 mark per action

QUESTION 2

CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (29 Marks)

1. Differentiate between a seizure and a convulsion. (4)

2. List and discuss the phases of a grand mal seizure. (10)

3. Discuss and explain the 2 different types of stroke (4)

4. Explain the difference between TIA and RIND (4)

5. Discuss and describe the method you would use to assess a patient you suspect may have
suffered a stroke (7)

QUESTION 3

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM (14 MARKS)

Scenario: At 11H00 you are despatched to the local high school for a “difficulty in breathing”. You
arrive on scene to find a 16-year old female patient clearly in respiratory distress sitting in a tripod
position.
She is surrounded by her concerned class mates. An adult identifies herself as the teacher.
The teacher tells you that the patient tried to use her asthma pump several times but it was not helping
her.
As you approach your patient you find she is wide eyed and is cyanosed with audible wheezes. When
you introduce yourself she is unable to speak back to you but acknowledges your presence.
Your assessment reveals the following vital signs:
Blood Pressure: 90/60mmHg

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AEA 01/2014
CLASS TEST 04

Pulse: 120 beats/min, weak

Respirations: 18 breaths/ min, shallow.
Saturation: 84%
Air entry: decreased bilaterally. Bilateral expiratory and inspiratory wheezing
HGT: 4mmol/l
GCS 13/15

1. What pharmacological agents would you use to relieve this patient’s respiratory distress?(2)

2. Explain your dosage and administration of these agents for this specific patient. (4)

3. Explain how these drugs work and why we administer them together( 8)

QUESTION 4

ENDOCRINE SYSTEM (10 Marks )

5.1 Discuss the pathophysiology of Diabetic Ketoacidosis (10)