RRT MCQ 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.
Read the first 7 RRT MCQ flashcards as text
A patient with ARDS has a PaO2 of 55 mmHg on FiO2 0.80. Which ventilator strategy is MOST appropriate?
Answer: Apply permissive hypercapnia with low tidal volumes
Lung-protective ventilation in ARDS uses low tidal volumes (6 mL/kg IBW) and accepts permissive hypercapnia to minimize ventilator-induced lung injury.
Which acid-base disorder is associated with hypokalemia and metabolic alkalosis?
Answer: Diuretic use causing chloride depletion
Loop and thiazide diuretics cause loss of chloride, hydrogen, and potassium ions, resulting in hypochloremic hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis.
When performing a helium-oxygen (heliox) therapy, which condition benefits MOST?
Answer: Upper airway obstruction causing turbulent flow
Heliox reduces gas density, converting turbulent to laminar flow, which is most beneficial in upper airway obstructions such as croup or post-extubation stridor.
A mechanically ventilated patient has sudden increase in peak airway pressure with no change in plateau pressure. The MOST likely cause is:
Answer: Bronchospasm
An increase in peak pressure with unchanged plateau pressure indicates increased airway resistance, most commonly from bronchospasm or secretion buildup in the airway.
A patient has PaO2 60 mmHg, PaCO2 50 mmHg, pH 7.32, HCO3 25 mEq/L on room air. What is the MOST likely diagnosis?
Answer: Acute respiratory acidosis without compensation
A normal bicarbonate with low pH and elevated PaCO2 indicates acute respiratory acidosis with no renal compensation yet.
Which chest X-ray finding is MOST consistent with a right-sided pleural effusion?
Answer: Blunting of the right costophrenic angle with opacification
Pleural effusion typically presents as blunting of the costophrenic angle and a meniscus sign on upright chest X-ray.
During a 6-minute walk test, a patient's SpO2 drops from 97% to 84%. This finding indicates:
Answer: Significant exercise-induced desaturation requiring supplemental oxygen evaluation
A drop in SpO2 to below 88–90% during exertion is significant exercise-induced desaturation that typically warrants supplemental oxygen therapy prescription.