RRT PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS
AND DETAILED SOLUTIONS 2026
▶ What are causes of COPD. Answer: 1) tobacco smoke
2) genetic predisposition
3) indoor and outdoor air pollution
▶ Body build of emphysema patient. Answer: thin, underweight, pink
puffer
▶ Body build of chronic bronchitis patient. Answer: stock, overweight, blue
bloater
▶ cough of emphysema patient. Answer: less common, mucoid secretions
▶ cough of chronic bronchitis patient. Answer: productive, copious
amounts, purulent secretions
▶ appearance of the chest of emphysema patient. Answer: barrel chest,
increased AP diameter, hoovers sign
▶ appearance of the chest of chronic bronchitis patient. Answer:
occasionally barrel chest
▶ respiratory pattern of emphysema patient. Answer: dyspnea, pursed lip
breathing, accessory muscle use, especially during exacerbations
▶ respiratory pattern of chronic bronchitis patient. Answer: use of
accessory muscles less common
▶ color of emphysema patient. Answer: often reddish skin
▶ color of chronic bronchitis patient. Answer: cyanotic
▶ clubbing with emphysema patient. Answer: late stage
, ▶ clubbing with chronic bronchitis patient. Answer: common
▶ diagnostic chest percussion for emphysema patients. Answer:
hyperresonant/tympanic note
▶ diagnostic chest percussion for chronic bronchitis patients. Answer:
normal
▶ breath sounds for emphysema patients. Answer: diminished breath
sounds, prolonged expiration
▶ breath sounds for chronic bronchitis patients. Answer: rhonichi,
crackles, wheezes
▶ chest xray for emphysema patients. Answer: translucent (dark) lung
fields, depressed or flattened diaphragms, long and narrow heart,
increased retrosternal air space, possibly hypertrophy of right ventricle
▶ chest xray for chronic bronchitis patients. Answer: translucent (dark)
lung fields, depressed or flattened diaphragms, possibly hypertrophy of
right ventricle
▶ pulmonary function for emphysema patients. Answer: decreased flow
rates, decreased DLco
▶ pulmonary function for chronic bronchitis. Answer: decreased flow rates,
normal DLco normal
▶ CBC for emphysema. Answer: increased RBC/HB/Hct in late stages
▶ CBC for chronic bronchitis. Answer: increased RBC/HB/Hct in early and
late stages
▶ sputum for emphysema patients. Answer: normal
▶ sputum for chronic bronchitis patients. Answer: often shows:
streptococcus pneumoniae, haemophilus influenzae, moraxella catarrhalis
AND DETAILED SOLUTIONS 2026
▶ What are causes of COPD. Answer: 1) tobacco smoke
2) genetic predisposition
3) indoor and outdoor air pollution
▶ Body build of emphysema patient. Answer: thin, underweight, pink
puffer
▶ Body build of chronic bronchitis patient. Answer: stock, overweight, blue
bloater
▶ cough of emphysema patient. Answer: less common, mucoid secretions
▶ cough of chronic bronchitis patient. Answer: productive, copious
amounts, purulent secretions
▶ appearance of the chest of emphysema patient. Answer: barrel chest,
increased AP diameter, hoovers sign
▶ appearance of the chest of chronic bronchitis patient. Answer:
occasionally barrel chest
▶ respiratory pattern of emphysema patient. Answer: dyspnea, pursed lip
breathing, accessory muscle use, especially during exacerbations
▶ respiratory pattern of chronic bronchitis patient. Answer: use of
accessory muscles less common
▶ color of emphysema patient. Answer: often reddish skin
▶ color of chronic bronchitis patient. Answer: cyanotic
▶ clubbing with emphysema patient. Answer: late stage
, ▶ clubbing with chronic bronchitis patient. Answer: common
▶ diagnostic chest percussion for emphysema patients. Answer:
hyperresonant/tympanic note
▶ diagnostic chest percussion for chronic bronchitis patients. Answer:
normal
▶ breath sounds for emphysema patients. Answer: diminished breath
sounds, prolonged expiration
▶ breath sounds for chronic bronchitis patients. Answer: rhonichi,
crackles, wheezes
▶ chest xray for emphysema patients. Answer: translucent (dark) lung
fields, depressed or flattened diaphragms, long and narrow heart,
increased retrosternal air space, possibly hypertrophy of right ventricle
▶ chest xray for chronic bronchitis patients. Answer: translucent (dark)
lung fields, depressed or flattened diaphragms, possibly hypertrophy of
right ventricle
▶ pulmonary function for emphysema patients. Answer: decreased flow
rates, decreased DLco
▶ pulmonary function for chronic bronchitis. Answer: decreased flow rates,
normal DLco normal
▶ CBC for emphysema. Answer: increased RBC/HB/Hct in late stages
▶ CBC for chronic bronchitis. Answer: increased RBC/HB/Hct in early and
late stages
▶ sputum for emphysema patients. Answer: normal
▶ sputum for chronic bronchitis patients. Answer: often shows:
streptococcus pneumoniae, haemophilus influenzae, moraxella catarrhalis
