Patient Assessment & Clinical Evaluation Flashcards
7 cards from real CHT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Patient Assessment & Clinical Evaluation flashcards as text
A patient with a history of spontaneous pneumothorax presents for hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Which action is MOST appropriate before initiating treatment?
Answer: Obtain physician clearance and verify resolution of the pneumothorax
A history of spontaneous pneumothorax is a relative contraindication; confirmed resolution and physician clearance are required before HBO therapy.
During the pre-treatment assessment, a patient reports taking bleomycin. This is significant because bleomycin combined with HBO therapy increases the risk of:
Answer: Pulmonary fibrosis and oxygen toxicity
Bleomycin potentiates pulmonary oxygen toxicity, and HBO therapy in patients who have received bleomycin can precipitate severe pulmonary fibrosis.
Which vital sign parameter is MOST critical to assess before a patient enters a hyperbaric chamber for wound care treatment?
Answer: Blood glucose level
Blood glucose must be checked because HBO therapy lowers blood glucose, and hypoglycemia during a treatment session can be dangerous and difficult to treat inside the chamber.
A patient scheduled for hyperbaric therapy reports consuming alcohol within the past 4 hours. The BEST course of action is to:
Answer: Postpone the treatment session
Alcohol intoxication is a contraindication to HBO therapy because it increases seizure risk and impairs the patient's ability to equalize ear pressure.
When assessing claustrophobia risk before hyperbaric treatment, which assessment tool is MOST commonly used?
Answer: Modified Claustrophobia Questionnaire (MCQ)
The Modified Claustrophobia Questionnaire helps screen patients who may have difficulty tolerating enclosed chamber environments.
A patient has a central venous catheter in place. Before hyperbaric treatment, the technician should verify that the catheter port is:
Answer: Free of air-filled components that could compress under pressure
Air-containing IV lines and catheter reservoirs can compress during pressurization, potentially causing air embolism or infusion errors.
Which finding in a patient's ophthalmic history would be a contraindication to monoplace hyperbaric oxygen therapy?
Answer: Recent retinal detachment repair with intraocular gas tamponade
Intraocular gas (e.g., SF6, C3F8) used in retinal surgery can expand during decompression, causing catastrophic intraocular pressure elevation.