RRT RRT Patient Assessment 2

Question 1

Crackles (rales) heard on auscultation are most commonly caused by:

Accepted Answer

Sudden opening of collapsed alveoli or fluid in small airways

Answer

Crackles are discontinuous, non-musical sounds produced by the sudden popping open of collapsed small airways or alveoli, or by movement of secretions in peripheral airways.

Question 2

Dullness to percussion over a lung field is most consistent with:

Accepted Answer

Pleural effusion or pulmonary consolidation

Answer

Dullness on percussion indicates reduced air content, which occurs when fluid (pleural effusion) or solid material (consolidation in pneumonia) replaces normal aerated lung tissue.

Question 3

A patient with a left-sided tension pneumothorax would most likely demonstrate:

Accepted Answer

Tracheal deviation to the right and absent breath sounds on the left

Answer

In left-sided tension pneumothorax, the increasing pressure shifts the mediastinum (and trachea) away from the affected side—toward the right—while breath sounds are absent on the left.

Question 4

Egophony, used to assess for pulmonary consolidation, is best described as:

Accepted Answer

The change of a spoken 'E' sound to an 'A' sound heard over consolidated tissue

Answer

Egophony is the transformation of a spoken 'E' into an 'A' sound when auscultated over consolidated lung tissue, because solid tissue changes the acoustic properties of transmitted sound.

Question 5

Which assessment finding would be LEAST expected in a patient with advanced COPD?

Accepted Answer

Inspiratory stridor

Answer

Inspiratory stridor is associated with upper airway obstruction (e.g., croup, foreign body), not COPD, which is a lower airway disease characterized by air trapping, prolonged expiration, and decreased breath sounds.

RRT Exam Practice Test

RRT Exam Practice Test

RRT RRT Patient Assessment 2