Ventilator Detective
This alarm commonly sounds when secretions, biting, or kinked tubing increases resistance.
What is high-pressure alarm?
This ABG value best reflects the adequacy of ventilation.
What is PaCO2?
A patient becomes severely dyspneic during head-down postural drainage due to severe coughing. Place the patient in this position first.
What is Fowler's position?
This pulmonary-function measurement is commonly used to monitor changes in asthma-related airway obstruction.
What is peak expiratory flow?
This topical anesthetic reduces airway reflexes before flexible bronchoscope.
What is Lidocaine?
A sudden low-exhaled-volume alarm accompanied by an audible leak suggests loss of air from this structure.
What is the artificial airway cuff?
Mechanical ventilation decreases a patient's PaCO2 from 53 mmHg to 40 mmHg. This acid-base value should rise.
What is pH?
A tracheostomy has been present for 16 days and becomes dislodged. The established stoma generally allows for this action.
What is reinsertion of the trach tube?
A flow-volume loop improves considerably after albuterol. This finding supports the continued use of this treatment.
What is bronchodilator therapy?
After using fluticasone/salmeterol, a patient should do this to help prevent oral candidiasis.
What is rinse the mouth?
In volume-controlled ventilation, increasing this setting shortens inspiratory time and allows more time for exhalation.
What is inspiratory flow?
An ABG shows pH 7.49, PaCO2 29 mmHg, HCO3 22mEq/L, and PaO2 70 mmHg. Give the FULL ABG classification.
What is acute respiratory alkalosis with mild hypoxemia.
A trach patient becomes hypoxemic, and a suction catheter cannot pass through the tube. This would be the RT's next step.
What is replacing the obstructed tube?
This imaging study identifies metabolically active metastatic disease associated with non-small-cell lung cancer.
What is PET scan?
This medication breaks down thick pulmonary secretions in patients with cystic fibrosis.
What is dornase alfa or pulmozyme?
A patient on pressure-control ventilation has inadequate tidal volumes and an elevated PaCO2. This setting should be increased.
What is inspiratory pressure?
A ventilated patient has pH 7.50, PaCO2 29 mmHg, and normal HCO3. What two ventilator variables should be reduced to correct the problem?
What is minute ventilation?
After intubation, only one side of the chest expands and breath sounds are diminished on the left. Assess this first.
What is ETT insertion depth?
Hypotension, tachycardia, unilateral absent breath sounds, and hyperresonance require this immediate procedure.
What is needle decompression?
During an albuterol treatment, the patient's HR rises from 110 to 140/bpm. The therapist should take this action.
What is stop the treatment.
On a flow-time graph, expiratory flow fails to reach baseline before the next breath.
What is auto-PEEP or air-trapping?
An arterial oxygen content of 12 mL/dL minus a venous oxygen content of 8.13 mL/dL produces this value.
What is a C(a-v)O2 difference of 3.87 mL/dL
Facial burns, upper-chest burns, and progressive oropharyngeal edema require this action before swelling worsens.
What is early endotracheal intubation?
Dullness to percussion, diminished breath sounds, and decreased tactile fremitus are characteristics of this condition
What is pleural effusion?
This abnormal form of hemoglobin should be monitored during inhaled nitric oxide therapy.
What is methemoglobin?