TMC EXAM E QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
d. Instruction on deep breathing and coughing techniques - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅A patient with a
history of chronic bronchitis is post-operative for an exploratory laparotomy. Review of the medical
record suggests the physician has concern about difficulty clearing secretions after the procedure. To
assist the patient with mobilization and removal of secretions, the respiratory therapist should
recommend
a. MDI therapy with an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid
b. Administer tetracycline
c. Administer cromolyn sodium
d. Instruction on deep breathing and coughing techniques
a. Untreated pneumothorax - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Which of the following conditions would be a
contraindication for IPPB?
a. Untreated pneumothorax
b. Pulmonary edema
c. A patient requiring bronchodilation AND lung expansion
d. Fractured ribs
b. The inner cannula is removed and the cuff deflated - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅The respiratory therapist
has an order to cap a patient with a fenestrated tracheostomy tube in preparation for speech therapy.
Prior to applying the cap on the end of the tube, the therapist should also ensure
a. The inner cannula is removed and the cuff inflated
b. The inner cannula is removed and the cuff deflated
c. The inner cannula is in place and the cuff deflated
d. The inner cannula is in placed and the cuff inflated
a. Size 7.0 mm ET tube with a large volume, low pressure cuff - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅A 75-kg (165-lbs)
male is in acute ventilatory failure. In preparation for mechanical ventilatory support, the patient is to
be orally intubated. Which of the following artificial airways would be most appropriate for this patient?
a. Size 7.0 mm ET tube with a large volume, low pressure cuff
b. Size 7.5 mm fenestrated tracheostomy tube
,c. Size 8.0 mm ET tube with a small volume, high pressure cuff
d. Jackson tracheostomy tube
c. Body box - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Which of the following devices is needed to determine a patient's
airway resistance?
a. Turbine pneumotachometer
b. Wheatstone bridge helium analyzer
c. Body box
d. Geissler tube nitrogen analyzer
d. Examine chest rise and auscultate breath sounds - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅A patient is receiving
manual ventilatory support with a bag-valve connected to a size 8.0 mm ET tube. While transporting the
patient from CT scan back to the intensive care unit, the respiratory therapist notices oxygen saturation
has dropped to 88% and that the bag-valve is easier to squeeze than normal. Suspecting mal-positioning
of the ET tube, the respiratory therapist should first
a. Perform diagnostic chest percussion
b. Obtain an arterial blood gas
c. Call for a chest radiograph
d. Examine chest rise and auscultate breath sounds
d. Obtain a chest radiograph - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅A 48-year-old patient has just been orally
intubated prior to being placed on volume-controlled ventilation. The respiratory therapist should do
which of the following to best confirm proper placement of the endotracheal tube?
a. Auscultate breath sounds
b. Assess chest rise symmetry
c. Examine tube markings near the lips
d. Obtain a chest radiograph
d. Return to full mechanical ventilation - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅After 20 minutes into a spontaneous
breathing trial (SBT) a mechanically ventilated female patient becomes anxious. Her baseline heart rate
has increased by 20 /min. What should the respiratory therapist do?
a. Calculate the RSBI
,b. Increase the FiO2 and continue to monitor
c. Measure MIP
d. Return to full mechanical ventilation
b. Hemoglobin level - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅What is needed to determine arterial oxygen content?
a. PvO2
b. Hemoglobin level
c. Oxygen index
d. P/F ratio
c. Elevated left ventricular filling pressure with low QT - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅A patient presents to the
emergency room with fulminating pulmonary edema. Which of the following would be experienced with
this emergency?
a. Hypovolemia
b. A good response to supplemental O2
c. Elevated left ventricular filling pressure with low QT
d. CVP 10 torr and PAP 10 torr
d. Small pneumothorax - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Which of the following conditions would benefit most
from a thoracentesis?
a. Pericardial contusion
b. Atelectasis
c. Complete opacification of the right lung
d. Small pneumothorax
a. Ventricular tachycardia with a pulse - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Which of the following conditions would
benefit most from cardioversion?
a. Ventricular tachycardia with a pulse
b. Frequent PVCs
c. Asystole
, d. Ventricular fibrillation
d. PaCO2 from an arterial blood gas analysis - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Which of the following is the best
indicator of the adequacy of alveolar ventilation?
a. Tidal volume
b. Color
c. Respiratory rate
d. PaCO2 from an arterial blood gas analysis
a. Diaper weight and blood draw volumes are recorded - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅A 32-gestational week
newborn is receiving mechanical ventilation via a 3.0 mm endotracheal tube. Which of the following are
associated with ongoing assessment of renal function?
a. Diaper weight and blood draw volumes are recorded
b. mPAP
c. PCWP
d. Humidification is maintained at a non-invasive temperature
b. Exogenous surfactant - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅A patient with ARDS and asthma could benefit from
which of the following medications?
a. Tobramycin and albuterol
b. Exogenous surfactant
c. Cromolyn sodium
d. Spiriva and Decadron
d. Breath sounds before and after every treatment - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅The respiratory therapist
should look to which of the following clinical data to determine the effectiveness of incentive
spirometry?
a. Arterial blood gas analysis pre and post treatment
b. Inspiratory capacity predicted volume
c. Maximum voluntary ventilation done periodically
d. Breath sounds before and after every treatment
d. Instruction on deep breathing and coughing techniques - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅A patient with a
history of chronic bronchitis is post-operative for an exploratory laparotomy. Review of the medical
record suggests the physician has concern about difficulty clearing secretions after the procedure. To
assist the patient with mobilization and removal of secretions, the respiratory therapist should
recommend
a. MDI therapy with an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid
b. Administer tetracycline
c. Administer cromolyn sodium
d. Instruction on deep breathing and coughing techniques
a. Untreated pneumothorax - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Which of the following conditions would be a
contraindication for IPPB?
a. Untreated pneumothorax
b. Pulmonary edema
c. A patient requiring bronchodilation AND lung expansion
d. Fractured ribs
b. The inner cannula is removed and the cuff deflated - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅The respiratory therapist
has an order to cap a patient with a fenestrated tracheostomy tube in preparation for speech therapy.
Prior to applying the cap on the end of the tube, the therapist should also ensure
a. The inner cannula is removed and the cuff inflated
b. The inner cannula is removed and the cuff deflated
c. The inner cannula is in place and the cuff deflated
d. The inner cannula is in placed and the cuff inflated
a. Size 7.0 mm ET tube with a large volume, low pressure cuff - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅A 75-kg (165-lbs)
male is in acute ventilatory failure. In preparation for mechanical ventilatory support, the patient is to
be orally intubated. Which of the following artificial airways would be most appropriate for this patient?
a. Size 7.0 mm ET tube with a large volume, low pressure cuff
b. Size 7.5 mm fenestrated tracheostomy tube
,c. Size 8.0 mm ET tube with a small volume, high pressure cuff
d. Jackson tracheostomy tube
c. Body box - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Which of the following devices is needed to determine a patient's
airway resistance?
a. Turbine pneumotachometer
b. Wheatstone bridge helium analyzer
c. Body box
d. Geissler tube nitrogen analyzer
d. Examine chest rise and auscultate breath sounds - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅A patient is receiving
manual ventilatory support with a bag-valve connected to a size 8.0 mm ET tube. While transporting the
patient from CT scan back to the intensive care unit, the respiratory therapist notices oxygen saturation
has dropped to 88% and that the bag-valve is easier to squeeze than normal. Suspecting mal-positioning
of the ET tube, the respiratory therapist should first
a. Perform diagnostic chest percussion
b. Obtain an arterial blood gas
c. Call for a chest radiograph
d. Examine chest rise and auscultate breath sounds
d. Obtain a chest radiograph - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅A 48-year-old patient has just been orally
intubated prior to being placed on volume-controlled ventilation. The respiratory therapist should do
which of the following to best confirm proper placement of the endotracheal tube?
a. Auscultate breath sounds
b. Assess chest rise symmetry
c. Examine tube markings near the lips
d. Obtain a chest radiograph
d. Return to full mechanical ventilation - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅After 20 minutes into a spontaneous
breathing trial (SBT) a mechanically ventilated female patient becomes anxious. Her baseline heart rate
has increased by 20 /min. What should the respiratory therapist do?
a. Calculate the RSBI
,b. Increase the FiO2 and continue to monitor
c. Measure MIP
d. Return to full mechanical ventilation
b. Hemoglobin level - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅What is needed to determine arterial oxygen content?
a. PvO2
b. Hemoglobin level
c. Oxygen index
d. P/F ratio
c. Elevated left ventricular filling pressure with low QT - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅A patient presents to the
emergency room with fulminating pulmonary edema. Which of the following would be experienced with
this emergency?
a. Hypovolemia
b. A good response to supplemental O2
c. Elevated left ventricular filling pressure with low QT
d. CVP 10 torr and PAP 10 torr
d. Small pneumothorax - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Which of the following conditions would benefit most
from a thoracentesis?
a. Pericardial contusion
b. Atelectasis
c. Complete opacification of the right lung
d. Small pneumothorax
a. Ventricular tachycardia with a pulse - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Which of the following conditions would
benefit most from cardioversion?
a. Ventricular tachycardia with a pulse
b. Frequent PVCs
c. Asystole
, d. Ventricular fibrillation
d. PaCO2 from an arterial blood gas analysis - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Which of the following is the best
indicator of the adequacy of alveolar ventilation?
a. Tidal volume
b. Color
c. Respiratory rate
d. PaCO2 from an arterial blood gas analysis
a. Diaper weight and blood draw volumes are recorded - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅A 32-gestational week
newborn is receiving mechanical ventilation via a 3.0 mm endotracheal tube. Which of the following are
associated with ongoing assessment of renal function?
a. Diaper weight and blood draw volumes are recorded
b. mPAP
c. PCWP
d. Humidification is maintained at a non-invasive temperature
b. Exogenous surfactant - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅A patient with ARDS and asthma could benefit from
which of the following medications?
a. Tobramycin and albuterol
b. Exogenous surfactant
c. Cromolyn sodium
d. Spiriva and Decadron
d. Breath sounds before and after every treatment - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅The respiratory therapist
should look to which of the following clinical data to determine the effectiveness of incentive
spirometry?
a. Arterial blood gas analysis pre and post treatment
b. Inspiratory capacity predicted volume
c. Maximum voluntary ventilation done periodically
d. Breath sounds before and after every treatment
