NPTE-PT FREE NPTE-PT Test Cardiovascular and Pulmonary PT Questions and Answers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) demonstrates a barrel chest deformity. Which physiological change best explains this structural adaptation?
- Chronic air trapping leading to hyperinflation of the lungs (Correct answer)
- Increased elastic recoil of the lung parenchyma
- Hypertrophy of the diaphragm from increased workload
- Calcification of the costal cartilages due to aging
Correct answer: Chronic air trapping leading to hyperinflation of the lungs
Barrel chest in COPD results from chronic air trapping that causes persistent lung hyperinflation, gradually reshaping the thorax.
Question 2: During phase II of cardiac rehabilitation, a patient's heart rate should generally not exceed what threshold above resting heart rate?
- 20-30 bpm above resting (Correct answer)
- 40-50 bpm above resting
- 10-15 bpm above resting
- 60-70 bpm above resting
Correct answer: 20-30 bpm above resting
Phase II cardiac rehab typically limits heart rate to 20-30 bpm above resting to ensure safe exercise progression.
Question 3: A physical therapist is treating a patient who develops sudden onset dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain, and hemoptysis after a total knee arthroplasty. What condition should be most suspected?
- Pulmonary embolism (Correct answer)
- Pneumothorax
- Myocardial infarction
- Acute bronchitis
Correct answer: Pulmonary embolism
The triad of sudden dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain, and hemoptysis following surgery is the classic presentation of pulmonary embolism.
Question 4: Which breathing pattern is characterized by progressively deeper breaths followed by progressively shallower breaths with periods of apnea?
- Cheyne-Stokes respiration (Correct answer)
- Kussmaul breathing
- Biot respiration
- Apneustic breathing
Correct answer: Cheyne-Stokes respiration
Cheyne-Stokes respiration features a crescendo-decrescendo pattern of breathing depth with intermittent apneic periods.
Question 5: A patient presents with a blood pressure of 90/60 mmHg, jugular venous distension, and muffled heart sounds. Which condition does this triad indicate?
- Cardiac tamponade (Correct answer)
- Tension pneumothorax
- Aortic stenosis
- Congestive heart failure
Correct answer: Cardiac tamponade
Beck's triad of hypotension, JVD, and muffled heart sounds is the classic presentation of cardiac tamponade.
Question 6: What is the primary purpose of pursed-lip breathing in patients with emphysema?
- To create back pressure that prevents premature airway collapse during exhalation (Correct answer)
- To increase the volume of air inhaled with each breath
- To strengthen the accessory muscles of respiration
- To reduce the respiratory rate by prolonging inhalation
Correct answer: To create back pressure that prevents premature airway collapse during exhalation
Pursed-lip breathing generates positive back pressure in the airways, preventing their premature collapse during expiration in emphysema.
NPTE-PT FREE NPTE-PT Test Cardiovascular and Pulmonary PT Questions and Answers 2
A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) demonstrates a barrel chest deformity.
Which physiological change best explains this structural adaptation?