Certified Hyperbaric Technologist Test CHT Hyperbaric Medicine and Indications 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which gas law explains the mechanical reduction in bubble volume that occurs during hyperbaric oxygen therapy for arterial gas embolism?
- Boyle's law (Correct answer)
- Henry's law
- Dalton's law
- Charles's law
Correct answer: Boyle's law
Boyle's law states that gas volume is inversely proportional to pressure, so increasing chamber pressure shrinks intravascular bubbles.
Question 2: Carbon monoxide poisoning is an approved HBO indication primarily because increased pressure does what?
- Dissolves more oxygen in plasma and speeds COHb dissociation (Correct answer)
- Directly binds and neutralizes carbon monoxide
- Lowers the patient's core body temperature
- Increases hemoglobin production in bone marrow
Correct answer: Dissolves more oxygen in plasma and speeds COHb dissociation
HBO raises dissolved plasma oxygen and accelerates the displacement of carbon monoxide from hemoglobin.
Question 3: Which of the following is an UHMS-approved indication for hyperbaric oxygen therapy?
- Crush injury and acute traumatic ischemia (Correct answer)
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Generalized anxiety disorder
Correct answer: Crush injury and acute traumatic ischemia
Crush injury and acute traumatic ischemia is an established UHMS-approved indication for adjunctive HBO.
Question 4: In treating decompression sickness, the U.S. Navy Treatment Table 6 is most commonly initiated at what pressure?
- 2.8 ATA (60 fsw) (Correct answer)
- 1.5 ATA (16 fsw)
- 6.0 ATA (165 fsw)
- 1.0 ATA (surface)
Correct answer: 2.8 ATA (60 fsw)
Treatment Table 6 begins at 2.8 ATA, equivalent to 60 feet of seawater, on 100% oxygen.
Question 5: Why is hyperbaric oxygen beneficial in clostridial myonecrosis (gas gangrene)?
- High oxygen tension inhibits alpha-toxin and anaerobic bacterial growth (Correct answer)
- It lowers the patient's white blood cell count
- It directly debrides necrotic tissue
- It raises the patient's blood glucose to feed tissue
Correct answer: High oxygen tension inhibits alpha-toxin and anaerobic bacterial growth
Elevated tissue oxygen tension halts alpha-toxin production and suppresses growth of the anaerobic Clostridium organisms.
Question 6: HBO promotes healing of chronic diabetic foot wounds largely by stimulating which process?
- Angiogenesis and fibroblast collagen synthesis (Correct answer)
- Immediate bone regeneration
- Permanent vasoconstriction
- Suppression of all immune activity
Correct answer: Angiogenesis and fibroblast collagen synthesis
Elevated oxygen tension drives angiogenesis and supports fibroblast collagen production needed for wound repair.
Question 7: Delayed radiation tissue injury such as osteoradionecrosis responds to HBO mainly because the therapy does what?
- Induces neovascularization in hypoxic irradiated tissue (Correct answer)
- Reverses the patient's original malignancy
- Removes residual radioactive material
- Eliminates the need for surgical reconstruction
Correct answer: Induces neovascularization in hypoxic irradiated tissue
HBO stimulates neovascularization in the hypocellular, hypovascular, hypoxic tissue characteristic of radiation injury.
Certified Hyperbaric Technologist Test CHT Hyperbaric Medicine and Indications 2
Which gas law explains the mechanical reduction in bubble volume that occurs during hyperbaric oxygen therapy for arterial gas embolism?