FP-C Ventilator Management and Respiratory Support 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the recommended lung-protective tidal volume for a mechanically ventilated adult patient during critical care transport?
- 10-12 mL/kg actual body weight
- 6-8 mL/kg ideal body weight (Correct answer)
- 4-5 mL/kg ideal body weight
- 8-10 mL/kg actual body weight
Correct answer: 6-8 mL/kg ideal body weight
Lung-protective ventilation targets 6-8 mL/kg of ideal body weight to minimize ventilator-induced lung injury.
Question 2: Which ventilator parameter most directly reflects alveolar plateau pressure and risk of barotrauma?
- Peak inspiratory pressure
- Mean airway pressure
- Plateau pressure (Correct answer)
- PEEP
Correct answer: Plateau pressure
Plateau pressure reflects static alveolar distending pressure and should be kept below 30 cmH2O to reduce barotrauma risk.
Question 3: The primary purpose of PEEP in mechanical ventilation is to:
- Increase tidal volume delivery
- Prevent alveolar collapse at end expiration (Correct answer)
- Reduce respiratory rate requirements
- Decrease mean airway pressure
Correct answer: Prevent alveolar collapse at end expiration
PEEP maintains positive end-expiratory pressure to prevent alveolar derecruitment and improve oxygenation.
Question 4: During transport, a ventilated patient's SpO2 drops to 88%. The FiO2 is 0.60 and PEEP is 5 cmH2O. What is the most appropriate initial intervention?
- Increase respiratory rate to 20
- Increase PEEP to 8-10 cmH2O (Correct answer)
- Decrease tidal volume to 4 mL/kg
- Switch from volume control to pressure control
Correct answer: Increase PEEP to 8-10 cmH2O
Increasing PEEP recruits collapsed alveoli and improves oxygenation when FiO2 escalation alone is insufficient.
Question 5: What I:E ratio is typically used as a starting point for most mechanically ventilated adults?
- 1:1
- 2:1
- 1:2 (Correct answer)
- 1:3
Correct answer: 1:2
A 1:2 I:E ratio (inspiration half the length of expiration) is the standard starting point, allowing adequate exhalation time.
Question 6: In volume-control ventilation, if the patient's lung compliance decreases, which parameter will change?
- Tidal volume
- Respiratory rate
- Peak inspiratory pressure (Correct answer)
- PEEP
Correct answer: Peak inspiratory pressure
In volume-control mode, the ventilator delivers the set tidal volume regardless of compliance, so decreased compliance manifests as increased peak inspiratory pressure.
Question 7: Which of the following is the primary advantage of pressure-control ventilation over volume-control ventilation?
- Guaranteed minute ventilation
- Guaranteed tidal volume delivery
- Limits peak airway pressure and reduces barotrauma risk (Correct answer)
- Eliminates the need for sedation
Correct answer: Limits peak airway pressure and reduces barotrauma risk
Pressure-control ventilation delivers breaths to a set pressure limit, which protects against high peak airway pressures and barotrauma.
FP-C Ventilator Management and Respiratory Support 1
What is the recommended lung-protective tidal volume for a mechanically ventilated adult patient during critical care transport?