Paramedics Exam Airway, Respiration & Ventilation 2

Question 1

A patient in respiratory arrest has dentures. What is the correct action before attempting BVM ventilation?

Accepted Answer

Leave well-fitting dentures in place to maintain facial seal

Answer

Well-fitting dentures should remain in place as they help maintain a better mask seal during BVM ventilation.

Question 2

Which waveform on capnography indicates a patient is rebreathing CO2 due to an incompetent expiratory valve?

Accepted Answer

Elevated baseline above zero

Answer

An elevated CO2 baseline above zero on capnography indicates rebreathing of CO2, often due to an incompetent expiratory valve or exhausted CO2 absorber.

Question 3

During rapid sequence intubation, succinylcholine is contraindicated in a patient with crush injuries from 10 days ago. Why?

Accepted Answer

Upregulation of acetylcholine receptors leads to life-threatening hyperkalemia

Answer

After 48–72 hours, denervated or damaged muscle upregulates acetylcholine receptors; succinylcholine causes massive potassium efflux, potentially causing cardiac arrest.

Question 4

A 4-year-old child is in respiratory distress. The appropriately-sized ETT is selected using the formula. Which formula is correct for uncuffed tubes?

Accepted Answer

(Age / 4) + 4

Answer

The Broselow tape or the formula (Age/4) + 4 estimates uncuffed ETT internal diameter in millimeters for pediatric patients.

Question 5

A patient is intubated and has equal bilateral breath sounds, but SpO2 remains at 84%. Waveform capnography shows a normal square waveform at 38 mmHg. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

Ventilation-perfusion mismatch

Answer

Confirmed tube placement with normal ETCO2 and equal breath sounds rules out malposition; persistent low SpO2 with good ventilation suggests V/Q mismatch (e.g., pulmonary embolism, ARDS).

Paramedics Exam Practice Test

Paramedics Exam Practice Test

Paramedics Exam Airway, Respiration & Ventilation 2