Rosh Emergency Medicine Practice Test

Which of the following symptoms is characteristic of a patient experiencing respiratory paralysis?

1. Increased respiratory rate

2. Flaccid muscle tone of extremities

3. Severe headache

4. Priapism

The correct answer is: Flaccid muscle tone of extremities

Respiratory paralysis is characterized by the inability of the muscles that control breathing to function effectively. This leads to a loss of muscle tone, particularly in the respiratory muscles, but it can also cause flaccidity in other muscle groups, including the extremities. When a patient experiences respiratory paralysis, you may observe weakness and a lack of movement, which results in a flaccid appearance. This lack of muscle tone is a direct consequence of the inability of the nervous system to activate those muscles. Increased respiratory rate is not typical in respiratory paralysis; rather, patients may display a decreased or absent respiratory effort. Similarly, severe headaches are often associated with other conditions, such as increased intracranial pressure or migraine, but not specifically with respiratory paralysis. Priapism, an involuntary and prolonged erection, is unrelated to the respiratory system and would also not be characteristic of respiratory paralysis.