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Airway, Respiration, and Ventilation Flashcards

7 cards from real Paramedics Exam practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

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  1. A patient presents with paradoxical chest movement following blunt trauma. This is MOST consistent with:

    Answer: Flail chest

    Flail chest occurs when multiple rib fractures create a free-floating segment that moves opposite to the rest of the chest wall (paradoxical movement).

  2. Which of the following is the CORRECT tidal volume to deliver when ventilating an adult with a BVM?

    Answer: 500-600 mL over 1 second

    Adult BVM ventilation should deliver 500-600 mL (enough to produce visible chest rise) over approximately 1 second to minimize gastric inflation.

  3. EtCO2 readings suddenly drop to near zero during transport of an intubated patient. The FIRST action should be:

    Answer: Check for tube displacement

    A sudden drop in EtCO2 to near zero most commonly indicates tube displacement, esophageal intubation, or circuit disconnection — tube position must be verified immediately.

  4. A CPAP device is being applied to a patient in acute pulmonary edema. Which pressure setting is MOST commonly used initially?

    Answer: 5-10 cm H2O

    CPAP for pulmonary edema is typically initiated at 5-10 cm H2O, which recruits collapsed alveoli and reduces the work of breathing.

  5. Which of the following patients is the BEST candidate for CPAP therapy?

    Answer: Alert patient in respiratory distress with SpO2 of 88%

    CPAP is appropriate for an alert, cooperative patient in respiratory distress; unconscious patients, arrest, and active vomiting are contraindications.

  6. The peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) is used primarily to assess severity in which condition?

    Answer: Asthma

    PEFR measures how quickly a patient can exhale air and is a key objective tool to assess asthma severity and response to treatment.

  7. A patient with COPD presents with severe dyspnea and a SpO2 of 82%. Your primary concern with high-flow oxygen in this patient is:

    Answer: Suppression of the hypoxic drive

    Some COPD patients rely on hypoxic drive for respiratory stimulation; high-flow O2 can suppress this drive, reducing respiratory effort.