NREMT Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Cognitive ExamPharmacologyMedium
A 68-year-old male is experiencing shortness of breath and diffuse crackles in his lungs. His medical history includes congestive heart failure. The EMT is considering administering oxygen. What is the primary goal of oxygen administration in this patient?
- ATo reduce anxiety.
- BTo improve cellular oxygenation.
- CTo decrease pulmonary artery pressure.
- DTo directly improve cardiac contractility.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. To improve cellular oxygenation.
The primary goal of oxygen administration in any patient experiencing respiratory distress or hypoxemia, including those with congestive heart failure, is to increase the amount of oxygen available for cellular metabolism and improve oxygen delivery to the tissues.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. While oxygen may indirectly reduce anxiety, it is not its primary physiological goal.
- C. Oxygen does not directly decrease pulmonary artery pressure; diuretics or vasodilators would be more effective for that.
- D. Oxygen does not directly improve cardiac contractility; other medications like inotropes would be used for that.
Oxygen Therapy Goal
The fundamental objective of administering supplemental oxygen is to correct or prevent hypoxemia and ensure adequate oxygen delivery to the body's tissues.
- Addresses insufficient oxygen in the blood (hypoxemia)
- Supports cellular respiration and metabolic processes
- Administered based on patient's SpO2 and clinical presentation
Memory trick: Oxygen's Big Goal: Get Air to Cells, Not Just for Thrills!