Which of the following should be considered first if medical and mechanical problems have been excluded and the patient continues to fight the ventilator or exhibit high levels of agitation or distress?

A 60-year-old male patient was pinned beneath a farm tractor that rolled over. His sons moved the tractor off him before you arrived. As you inspect the patient's chest, you notice that a small area of the chest wall sinks in every time the patient takes a breath. This is known as:

A) crepitus, indicating rib fractures. B) flail chest. C) tension pneumothorax. D) jugular venous distention.

Which of the following BEST defines "atrophy"?

structuresa. b. Also known as "Achilles reflex," this test reveals the rate of contraction of the calf muscles and tendons when the Achilles tendon is struck; tests the neurologic reflexes that occur when the Achilles tendon is sharply struck by a physician during a physical examination c. The decrease of mass in a muscle, organ, or other tissue, most often caused by changes in nutrition or disease c. d. An abnormal tightening or shortening of muscles, usually in the extremities, that permanently limits the movement of the body part