Mechanical Ventilation Management Flashcards
7 cards from real CCRN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Mechanical Ventilation Management flashcards as text
A ventilated patient suddenly desaturates and is in distress. Which mnemonic guides rapid troubleshooting?
Answer: DOPE: Displacement, Obstruction, Pneumothorax, Equipment failure
The DOPE mnemonic structures the assessment of acute deterioration in a ventilated patient.
When acute deterioration occurs and the cause is unclear, what is a key immediate step in the DOPE approach?
Answer: Disconnect from the ventilator and manually bag with 100% oxygen
Manual bagging with 100% oxygen distinguishes patient problems from equipment failure and supports oxygenation.
Capnography on a ventilated patient suddenly drops to near zero. What does this most likely indicate?
Answer: Loss of effective ventilation such as disconnection, displacement, or cardiac arrest
A sudden loss of ETCO2 signals a critical loss of ventilation or circulation and demands immediate assessment.
A patient with obstructive lung disease on the ventilator develops worsening hypotension shortly after intubation. What is the most likely cause?
Answer: Dynamic hyperinflation with auto-PEEP reducing venous return
Air trapping raises intrathoracic pressure, impeding venous return and causing hypotension; a brief disconnect can confirm and relieve it.
Which clinical sign best indicates readiness to begin weaning from mechanical ventilation?
Answer: Resolution of the underlying cause with adequate oxygenation on minimal support
Weaning readiness requires that the precipitating problem has improved and gas exchange is adequate on low support.
Which complication is most directly associated with high levels of PEEP?
Answer: Decreased cardiac output from reduced venous return
High PEEP raises intrathoracic pressure, decreasing venous return and potentially lowering cardiac output.
A patient self-extubates. After confirming the airway is patent and oxygenation adequate, what is the nurse's priority?
Answer: Assess respiratory status closely and prepare for possible reintubation
Close respiratory monitoring guides whether reintubation is needed; not all self-extubated patients require it.