Your pediatric patient has been ill for several days leading you to suspect he may be dehydrated. Once on the electrocardiogram, it is evident the patient has an accelerated heart rate and abnormally flattened T waves. What is the most likely cause of this finding?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Hypokalemia. Hypokalemia, or low potassium levels, can cause an accelerated heart rate and flattened T waves on an ECG due to disturbances in cardiac electrical activity. Potassium plays a crucial role in maintaining normal heart function, and low levels can lead to various cardiac abnormalities. Hyperglycemia (A) and Hypoglycemia (C) are unlikely to cause these ECG findings. Hyperkalemia (B), high potassium levels, would typically present with different ECG changes such as peaked T waves and widened QRS complexes.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Lactated Ringer's helps decrease acidosis in a hypovolemic patient. Lactated Ringer's contains lactate, which is converted to bicarbonate in the body, helping to buffer acidosis. Normal saline does not have this buffering capacity, making lactated Ringer's more beneficial in correcting acidosis in trauma patients. Choice A is incorrect because both normal saline and lactated Ringer's stay in the vascular system for a similar duration. Choice B is incorrect because neither normal saline nor lactated Ringer's can carry red blood cells. Choice D is incorrect because lactated Ringer's does not increase acidosis; it helps decrease acidosis.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Monro-Kellie Principle. This principle states that the total volume inside the skull remains constant, so an increase in one component (such as cerebral blood volume) must be compensated by a decrease in another (such as CSF volume) to maintain a normal ICP. This is crucial in head injuries to prevent dangerous elevations in pressure. B: Bernicke Principle does not pertain to intracranial pressure regulation. C: Fick Principle is related to cardiac output. D: Bernoulli's Principle is about fluid flow and pressure, not specific to ICP regulation.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: To ensure any undeployed airbags do not discharge and cause an injury to the patient or anyone involved. It is important to disconnect the battery before attempting to enter the vehicle or extricate the driver because doing so can prevent any undeployed airbags from suddenly deploying during the extrication process. Deploying airbags can cause serious injuries to the patient or rescuers due to the force and speed at which they inflate. Disconnecting the battery helps to eliminate this risk and ensures a safer extrication process. Choice A is incorrect because the main concern is not about the vehicle moving during extrication. Choice C is incorrect as electrocution risk is more related to high-voltage components in hybrid or electric vehicles, not just the standard battery. Choice D is incorrect as the battery disconnection is primarily to prevent airbag deployment, not to prevent fires in the passenger compartment.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: "Produce the greatest number of survivors based on available resources." This principle of triage, known as "maximizing the number of survivors," aims to save as many lives as possible by prioritizing treatment based on the likelihood of survival with available resources. By focusing on maximizing the number of survivors, it ensures efficient use of limited resources and increases overall survival rates. Other choices are incorrect because solely treating the most severely injured patients first (A) may not lead to the highest number of survivors, establishing a field triage area directed by a doctor (B) might not always be feasible in emergency situations, and rapidly transporting all patients to the nearest hospital (C) may not consider the severity of injuries or resource limitations.