Medical Emergencies · single question
A patient feels lightheaded when you upright the dental chair after an extraction. What will you do?
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Correct answer: D. Supine (reclined) position
- A. Trendelenburg (head down) is an older recommendation now controversial — it may not increase cardiac output and can worsen breathing. Not the current first choice.
- B. Oxygen is helpful for cardiac events — but for vasovagal syncope/orthostatic hypotension, the first step is positioning.
- C. Nitroglycerin is for angina — it causes vasodilation and would WORSEN hypotension.
- D. For orthostatic hypotension after suddenly uprighting the chair, RECLINE the patient to the supine (flat) position. This redistributes blood volume to the brain, rapidly restoring cerebral perfusion. The chair was uprighted too quickly, causing blood to pool in the lower extremities.
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