NBRC Mechanical Ventilation

Question 1

Which ventilator mode delivers a set tidal volume regardless of airway resistance or compliance changes?

Accepted Answer

Volume control ventilation (VCV)

Answer

Volume control ventilation guarantees delivery of a preset tidal volume by adjusting peak inspiratory pressure as lung mechanics change.

Question 2

Plateau pressure should ideally be kept below which threshold to reduce ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI)?

Accepted Answer

30 cmH2O

Answer

Current lung-protective ventilation guidelines recommend keeping plateau pressure below 30 cmH2O to minimize barotrauma and VILI.

Question 3

PEEP (positive end-expiratory pressure) is used primarily to:

Accepted Answer

Prevent alveolar collapse and improve oxygenation

Answer

PEEP maintains alveolar patency at end-expiration, recruits collapsed lung units, and improves V/Q matching and oxygenation.

Question 4

Auto-PEEP (intrinsic PEEP) occurs when:

Accepted Answer

Insufficient expiratory time prevents full exhalation before the next breath

Answer

Auto-PEEP develops when air trapping occurs because the next breath is delivered before the previous breath is fully exhaled, leading to gas stacking.

Question 5

In pressure support ventilation (PSV), the ventilator:

Accepted Answer

Provides a fixed pressure boost to patient-initiated breaths

Answer

PSV augments each spontaneous patient-initiated breath with a clinician-set pressure boost, reducing work of breathing while maintaining patient control of rate and timing.

NBRC - National Board for Respiratory Care Practice Test

NBRC - National Board for Respiratory Care Practice Test

NBRC Mechanical Ventilation