Certified Hyperbaric Technologist Test Hyperbaric Emergency Medicine 3

Question 1

A patient with suspected carbon monoxide poisoning is treated with HBO primarily to:

Accepted Answer

Accelerate elimination of CO and reduce reperfusion injury

Answer

Increase carboxyhemoglobin levels

Answer

Lower the patient's body temperature

Answer

Induce controlled nitrogen narcosis

Question 2

A claustrophobic patient panics during compression and demands to exit. The best initial technologist response is to:

Accepted Answer

Stop or slow compression, communicate calmly, and reassure the patient

Answer

Ignore the request and continue to depth

Answer

Immediately decompress to surface at maximum rate

Answer

Sedate the patient without physician orders

Question 3

Pneumothorax developing during decompression is dangerous because the trapped gas will:

Accepted Answer

Expand as ambient pressure decreases, risking tension pneumothorax

Answer

Shrink and resolve on its own

Answer

Convert to liquid

Answer

Have no effect on the lungs

Question 4

Why is an untreated pneumothorax generally considered a contraindication to hyperbaric treatment?

Accepted Answer

Gas in the pleural space expands on decompression and may collapse the lung

Answer

Oxygen cannot reach the lungs

Answer

It increases nitrogen narcosis

Answer

It causes immediate seizure

Question 5

During treatment a patient complains of severe ear pain during compression. The technologist should:

Accepted Answer

Halt or slow compression and coach equalization (Valsalva/swallowing)

Answer

Continue compressing faster to push through

Answer

Decompress fully and cancel all future treatments

Answer

Apply suction to the ear

Question 6

A sudden hyperbaric medical emergency requires the chamber team to prioritize which of the following first?

Accepted Answer

Patient airway, breathing, and circulation while maintaining chamber safety

Answer

Documentation of the event

Answer

Calling the manufacturer

Answer

Cleaning the chamber

Question 7

Hypoglycemia is a recognized in-chamber emergency for diabetic patients largely because HBO can:

Accepted Answer

Lower blood glucose levels during treatment

Answer

Raise blood glucose significantly

Answer

Have no metabolic effect

Answer

Cause permanent insulin resistance