Patient Care & Monitoring in Hyperbaric Settings 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 Care & Monitoring in Hyperbaric Settings flashcards as text
A patient undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy suddenly becomes pale, diaphoretic, and reports feeling faint. What is the FIRST action the CHT should take?
Answer: Notify the physician and begin patient assessment
The CHT should immediately notify the supervising physician and assess the patient's vital signs before taking further action.
Which monitoring parameter is MOST critical to assess for a patient with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) during HBO therapy?
Answer: Respiratory rate and oxygen saturation
COPD patients may have hypoxic drive and are at risk for respiratory complications, making respiratory rate and SpO2 critical monitoring parameters.
A multiplace hyperbaric chamber is pressurized to 2.4 ATA. A patient complains of severe ear pain during compression. What is the correct response?
Answer: Halt compression, decompress slowly to a depth where pain resolves, then attempt re-compression more slowly
Halting compression and slowly decompressing until pain resolves allows the patient to equilibrate before attempting further compression at a slower rate.
Which of the following best describes the purpose of a tender in a multiplace hyperbaric chamber?
Answer: To provide direct patient care and assistance inside the pressurized chamber
A tender is a trained attendant who accompanies patients inside the multiplace chamber to provide direct hands-on care.
During HBO therapy, a patient reports a sudden onset of tunnel vision and anxiety. These signs are MOST consistent with which complication?
Answer: Oxygen toxicity (CNS)
Tunnel vision, anxiety, and other prodromal symptoms such as lip twitching are classic early signs of CNS oxygen toxicity during HBO therapy.
When monitoring a diabetic patient receiving HBO therapy, which adverse effect is of GREATEST concern during the treatment session?
Answer: Hypoglycemia
HBO therapy can lower blood glucose levels; diabetic patients are at risk for hypoglycemia during and after treatment.
A monoplace chamber patient begins to exhibit lip twitching and facial muscle contractions during treatment at 2.0 ATA with 100% oxygen. The CORRECT immediate action is to:
Answer: Terminate the treatment, decompress at standard rate, and prepare for seizure management
Visible muscle twitching indicates impending oxygen seizure; the treatment must be terminated and decompression begun while preparing for seizure management.