NREMT Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Cognitive ExamAirway, Respiration & VentilationMedium
When assessing a patient's breathing, which of the following findings would indicate inadequate ventilation?
- ARespiratory rate of 16 breaths per minute.
- BEqual chest rise and fall.
- CShallow tidal volume with minimal chest wall movement.
- DSkin is warm and dry.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Shallow tidal volume with minimal chest wall movement.
Inadequate ventilation is characterized by insufficient air movement to meet the body's metabolic needs. Shallow tidal volume with minimal chest wall movement directly indicates that the patient is not moving enough air with each breath, regardless of the respiratory rate, leading to poor gas exchange.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. A respiratory rate of 16 breaths per minute is within the normal adult range and does not, by itself, indicate inadequate ventilation.
- B. Equal chest rise and fall is a normal finding and indicates adequate lung expansion, not inadequate ventilation.
- D. Warm and dry skin is a normal finding and does not directly relate to the adequacy of ventilation.
Inadequate Ventilation
A condition where the volume of air moved into and out of the lungs is insufficient to maintain normal levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood.
- Can be caused by shallow breathing, slow breathing, or complete respiratory arrest.
- Signs include altered mental status, cyanosis, absent/diminished breath sounds, and accessory muscle use.
- Requires immediate ventilatory assistance.
Memory trick: Look for the subtle signs, not just the count.