Paramedics Airway, Respiration & Ventilation Questions and Answers

Question 1

A 68-year-old male with a history of COPD is being ventilated with a bag-valve mask.
Quantitative waveform capnography shows a prolonged Phase II and a 'shark fin' appearance.
What is the most likely cause of this finding?

Accepted Answer

Bronchospasm

Answer

Hyperventilation

Answer

Esophageal intubation

Answer

Pulmonary embolism

Question 2

You are transporting a 5-year-old child in respiratory distress. Which anatomical difference in a pediatric airway, compared to an adult, is most critical to consider when positioning the patient for basic airway management?

Accepted Answer

The occiput is proportionally larger.

Answer

The trachea is narrower and more flexible.

Answer

The tongue is proportionally larger.

Answer

The epiglottis is floppier and U-shaped.

Question 3

A paramedic is managing a mechanically ventilated patient following intubation. The high-pressure alarm on the ventilator sounds. After confirming the patient is not biting the tube and there are no kinks in the circuit, which of the following is the most appropriate next step?

Accepted Answer

Suction the endotracheal tube.

Answer

Immediately extubate the patient.

Answer

Administer a sedative to the patient.

Answer

Increase the high-pressure alarm limit.

Question 4

Which of the following is a primary indication for performing a needle cricothyrotomy in the prehospital setting?

Accepted Answer

A 'can't intubate, can't ventilate' situation with massive maxillofacial trauma.

Answer

A patient with a suspected C-spine injury who requires intubation.

Answer

An apneic patient with a foreign body airway obstruction that cannot be visualized.

Answer

A patient in severe respiratory distress from an asthma exacerbation.

Question 5

You are setting up a ventilator for a 70 kg adult male patient diagnosed with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). According to the ARDSNet protocol, what should the initial tidal volume be set to?

Accepted Answer

6 mL/kg

Answer

10 mL/kg

Answer

12 mL/kg

Answer

8 mL/kg

Question 6

A patient in cardiac arrest has been intubated. Continuous waveform capnography shows an abrupt and sustained increase in the end-tidal CO2 (ETCO2) reading from 15 mmHg to 40 mmHg. This finding is most indicative of:

Accepted Answer

Return of Spontaneous Circulation (ROSC)

Answer

Dislodgement of the endotracheal tube

Answer

Ineffective chest compressions

Answer

Developing tension pneumothorax

A 68-year-old male with a history of COPD is being ventilated with a bag-valve mask.Quantitative waveform capnography shows a prolonged Phase II and a 'shark fin' appearance.What is the most likely cause of this finding?

A 68-year-old male with a history of COPD is being ventilated with a bag-valve mask.
Quantitative waveform capnography shows a prolonged Phase II and a 'shark fin' appearance.
What is the most likely cause of this finding?