Question

You are called to a nursing home for an 85-year-old patient complaining of abdominal pain. The patient has a history of dementia and cannot describe the pain to you. The nurse states the patient has n vomiting dark coffee ground emesis for about an hour. His blood pressure is 90/40, pulse 100, and respiratory rate of 24. Why should the EMT use an oxygen mask with caution?

A. The patient cannot clear any additional emesis.
B. The oxygen will cause the patient to start vomiting again.
C. The patient may go unresponsive.
D. The patient may hyperventilate.

Answer 1

The EMT should use an oxygen mask with caution in this case because the patient has been vomiting dark coffee ground emesis, indicating the presence of blood in the stomach. The oxygen itself does not directly cause the patient to start vomiting again, but it can contribute to the risk of aspiration if the patient vomits. Administering oxygen may not improve the patient's blood pressure or overall condition.

Step-by-step explanation:

The EMT should use an oxygen mask with caution in this case because the patient has been vomiting dark coffee ground emesis, indicating the presence of blood in the stomach. If the patient cannot clear any additional emesis and vomits while wearing an oxygen mask, it could lead to aspiration pneumonia. The oxygen itself does not directly cause the patient to start vomiting again, but it can contribute to the risk of aspiration if the patient vomits.

In addition, the patient's blood pressure is low and they may be at risk of going unresponsive. Administering oxygen via a mask may not improve the patient's blood pressure or overall condition. As for hyperventilation, it is not a specific concern in this scenario.