NPTE-PT NPTE-PT Test Cardiopulmonary Assessment and Management 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 finding?
- Chronic air trapping leading to hyperinflation of the lungs (Correct answer)
- Increased elastic recoil of lung parenchyma
- Decreased anteroposterior diameter of the thorax
- Hypertrophy of the diaphragm muscle
Correct answer: Chronic air trapping leading to hyperinflation of the lungs
Barrel chest in COPD results from chronic air trapping that causes persistent hyperinflation, increasing the anteroposterior diameter of the thorax.
Question 2: During auscultation of a patient post-coronary artery bypass graft surgery, the physical therapist hears diminished breath sounds at the left base. What is the MOST likely cause?
- Left lower lobe atelectasis (Correct answer)
- Right middle lobe pneumonia
- Pneumothorax of the right lung
- Pleural effusion of the right lung
Correct answer: Left lower lobe atelectasis
Diminished breath sounds at the left base after cardiac surgery most commonly indicate left lower lobe atelectasis due to phrenic nerve irritation and diaphragmatic dysfunction.
Question 3: A patient in the ICU has a pulmonary artery catheter showing a pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) of 22 mmHg. This value is MOST consistent with which condition?
- Left ventricular failure (Correct answer)
- Right ventricular failure
- Pulmonary embolism
- Hypovolemic shock
Correct answer: Left ventricular failure
A PCWP above 18 mmHg indicates elevated left atrial pressure, which is characteristic of left ventricular failure causing pulmonary congestion.
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 tidal volume with intermittent apneic periods, often seen in heart failure or neurological injury.
Question 5: A physical therapist is monitoring a patient during cardiac rehabilitation. The patient's rate-pressure product (RPP) at rest is 8,400. Which combination of values reflects this RPP?
- Heart rate 70 bpm and systolic BP 120 mmHg (Correct answer)
- Heart rate 80 bpm and systolic BP 130 mmHg
- Heart rate 60 bpm and systolic BP 110 mmHg
- Heart rate 90 bpm and systolic BP 140 mmHg
Correct answer: Heart rate 70 bpm and systolic BP 120 mmHg
Rate-pressure product equals heart rate multiplied by systolic blood pressure, so 70 x 120 = 8,400.
Question 6: A patient with cystic fibrosis is receiving postural drainage in a Trendelenburg position. Which lung segments are being targeted?
- Lower lobe basal segments (Correct answer)
- Upper lobe apical segments
- Right middle lobe
- Left lingula
Correct answer: Lower lobe basal segments
Trendelenburg positioning with head lower than feet uses gravity to drain secretions from the lower lobe basal segments.
NPTE-PT NPTE-PT Test Cardiopulmonary Assessment and Management Questions and Answers 2
A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) demonstrates a barrel chest deformity.
Which physiological change BEST explains this finding?