NPTE-PT NPTE-PT Test Cardiopulmonary Assessment and Management Questions and Answers 2

Question 1

A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) demonstrates a barrel chest deformity. Which physiological change BEST explains this finding?

Accepted Answer

Chronic air trapping leading to hyperinflation of the lungs

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

Left lower lobe atelectasis

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

Left ventricular failure

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

Cheyne-Stokes respiration

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

Heart rate 70 bpm and systolic BP 120 mmHg

Answer

Rate-pressure product equals heart rate multiplied by systolic blood pressure, so 70 x 120 = 8,400.

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NPTE-PT NPTE-PT Test Cardiopulmonary Assessment and Management Questions and Answers 2