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RRT Knowledge Flashcards

7 cards from real RRT 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 with a tracheostomy tube in place develops subcutaneous emphysema around the stoma site and decreased breath sounds. The MOST likely cause is:

    Answer: False passage or paratracheal tube placement

    Subcutaneous emphysema with decreased breath sounds after tracheostomy placement suggests the tube has created a false passage outside the trachea.

  2. The Fick equation for cardiac output requires which of the following variables?

    Answer: VO2, CaO2, and CvO2

    The Fick equation is CO = VO2 / (CaO2 − CvO2), requiring oxygen consumption and the arteriovenous oxygen content difference.

  3. A mechanically ventilated patient has an end-tidal CO2 (EtCO2) of 28 mmHg and a PaCO2 of 44 mmHg. The arterial-to-end-tidal CO2 gradient of 16 mmHg MOST likely indicates:

    Answer: Increased dead space ventilation

    A large PaCO2–EtCO2 gradient (normally ≤5 mmHg) indicates increased dead space ventilation, where exhaled CO2 is diluted by non-perfused alveolar gas.

  4. Which inhaled medication is classified as a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) and is used in COPD maintenance therapy?

    Answer: Tiotropium bromide

    Tiotropium is a once-daily LAMA that provides sustained bronchodilation by blocking M3 muscarinic receptors, used as COPD maintenance therapy.

  5. A patient requires nitric oxide (iNO) therapy for pulmonary hypertension. The MOST important monitoring parameter specific to iNO administration is:

    Answer: Methemoglobin levels

    Inhaled nitric oxide oxidizes hemoglobin to methemoglobin, which cannot carry oxygen; methemoglobin levels must be monitored and kept below 5%.

  6. During a bronchoscopy-guided BAL (bronchoalveolar lavage), the respiratory therapist should maintain SpO2 above what minimum threshold throughout the procedure?

    Answer: 90%

    SpO2 should be maintained at or above 90% during BAL; supplemental oxygen should be increased pre-procedure and the procedure paused if desaturation occurs.

  7. An adult patient weighing 70 kg is being initiated on high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) for hypoxemic respiratory failure. An appropriate starting flow rate is:

    Answer: 40–60 L/min

    HFNC is typically initiated at 40–60 L/min in adults to ensure flows exceed peak inspiratory demand and wash out nasopharyngeal dead space.