NPTE-PT NPTE-PT Test Cardiopulmonary Assessment and Management Questions and Answers 3

Question 1

A patient presents with an SpO2 of 88% on room air and a PaO2 of 55 mmHg. According to the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve, this patient is on which portion of the curve?

Accepted Answer

The steep portion where small changes in PaO2 cause large changes in SpO2

Answer

At a PaO2 of 55 mmHg and SpO2 of 88%, the patient is on the steep portion of the curve where even small decreases in PaO2 will cause significant drops in oxygen saturation.

Question 2

During a 6-minute walk test, a patient with heart failure demonstrates exertional dyspnea at 3 minutes and a 12-point increase on the Borg RPE scale. Which physiological mechanism BEST explains the early onset of symptoms?

Accepted Answer

Reduced cardiac output limiting oxygen delivery to working muscles

Answer

In heart failure, the heart cannot adequately increase cardiac output during exercise, leading to insufficient oxygen delivery and early onset of dyspnea and fatigue.

Question 3

A physical therapist notes that a patient on mechanical ventilation has a respiratory rate of 28 breaths/min, tidal volume of 350 mL, and dead space volume of 150 mL. What is the patient's alveolar ventilation per minute?

Accepted Answer

5,600 mL/min

Answer

Alveolar ventilation equals respiratory rate multiplied by the difference between tidal volume and dead space: 28 x (350 - 150) = 5,600 mL/min.

Question 4

Which electrocardiogram finding is MOST characteristic of atrial fibrillation?

Accepted Answer

Irregularly irregular R-R intervals with absence of distinct P waves

Answer

Atrial fibrillation is identified by irregularly irregular ventricular rhythm and the absence of organized P waves, replaced by fibrillatory baseline activity.

Question 5

A patient with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is positioned prone by the ICU team. What is the PRIMARY therapeutic rationale for prone positioning?

Accepted Answer

Improved ventilation-perfusion matching in dorsal lung regions

Answer

Prone positioning recruits collapsed dorsal lung regions and improves ventilation-perfusion matching, which is the primary mechanism for improving oxygenation in ARDS.

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NPTE-PT NPTE-PT Test Cardiopulmonary Assessment and Management Questions and Answers 3