A 19-year-old patient has received multiple stab wounds. The patient is unresponsive. The vital signs are BP 82/60, P 116, R 28, and SpO2 86%. Which substance would the EMT expect to increase in the patient's body?
A. Sodium bicarbonate
B. Carbon dioxide
C. Lactic acid
D. Water
Answer (2)
The patient presents with signs of hypovolemic shock due to multiple stab wounds.
Decreased tissue perfusion leads to anaerobic metabolism.
Anaerobic metabolism results in the production of lactic acid.
Therefore, the EMT would expect an increase in lactic acid in the patient's body. The answer is C .
Explanation
Initial Assessment The patient is a 19-year-old male with multiple stab wounds and is unresponsive. His vital signs are BP 82/60, P 116, R 28, and SpO2 86%. These signs indicate hypovolemic shock. Hypovolemic shock occurs when there is significant blood loss, leading to decreased tissue perfusion.
Anaerobic Metabolism and Lactic Acid Due to the decreased tissue perfusion, the body shifts to anaerobic metabolism. Anaerobic metabolism is a process where the body produces energy without sufficient oxygen. A byproduct of anaerobic metabolism is lactic acid.
Expected Increase in Lactic Acid Therefore, in this scenario, the EMT would expect lactic acid levels to increase in the patient's body.
Final Answer The correct answer is C. Lactic acid.
Examples
In a real-world scenario, understanding the physiological response to trauma, such as stab wounds, is critical for EMTs. The body's reaction to significant blood loss involves a shift to anaerobic metabolism, resulting in increased lactic acid production. Recognizing this helps EMTs prioritize interventions aimed at restoring tissue perfusion and oxygenation, improving patient outcomes. For example, if a patient's lactic acid levels are elevated, it indicates the severity of shock and guides treatment decisions such as fluid resuscitation and oxygen administration.
In the case of the 19-year-old patient with stab wounds, the EMT would expect lactic acid to increase due to anaerobic metabolism resulting from hypovolemic shock. This increase occurs because the body lacks sufficient oxygen to produce energy aerobically. Therefore, the chosen option is C. Lactic acid.
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