FCCS fundamental critical care support EXAM A+ GRADE ASSURED COMPLETE SOLUTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS

CRITICAL CARE EXAM zm zm




Exam Solution
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FCCS Review 2026 A+ GRADE ASSURED COMPLETE SOL
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UTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS (42ACB) zm zm zm zm




QUESTION 1 zm




What is the most important sign in a critically ill pt? Why?
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ANSWER

Tachypnea Indicates metabolic acidosis w/ respiratory alkalosis compensation
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QUESTION 2 zm




A pt misses dialysis for a few days and comes in with fluid overload. He's tachycardic
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and tachypneic. On physical exam, you find JVD, pulsus paradoxus (20 mmHg drop du
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ring inspiration), and HoTN (80/40) with distant, muffled heart sounds. Lungs are cle
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ar to auscultation. What is the dx?
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ANSWER

Cardiac tamponade; obstructive shock
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QUESTION 3 zm




If a pt has a thyromental distance of 2 cm, what can you expect about their airway?
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ANSWER

Difficult airway w/ an anteriorly displaced larynx
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QUESTION 4 zm




A COPD pt comes in with difficulty breathing. He then becomes apneic and unresponsi
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ve. How would you ventilate this pt?
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ANSWER

BVM

, QUESTION 5 zm




A pt arrives after falling from a ladder and has a frontal laceration. On examination, y
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ou find papilledema and labored breathing w/o being able to clear secretions. What is
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your biggest concern when intubating this pt?
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ANSWER

Cerebral edema/increasing ICP Intubation tends to cause an increase in ICP. Administer lidocaine pri
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or to intubation to inhibit vagal stimulation.
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QUESTION 6 zm




An ESRD pt w/ hyperkalemia develops dyspnea and requires intubation. Which paraly
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tic agent/NMB should you avoid and why?
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ANSWER

Succinylcholine Worsens hyperkalemia zm zm




QUESTION 7 zm




A pt is admitted after an OD. He starts to have apneic episodes and his SpO2 is dropp
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ing. You place him on a non-
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rebreather mask w/ 100% O2, yet his SpO2 remains at 80%. Why is it not being corr
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ected? Then, if you try a BVM and it also fails, and video laryngoscopy is unavailable,
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what is your next best choice for an airway?
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ANSWER

The pt is having apneic episodes, which means that administering high-
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flow O2 will be ineffective. Choose an LMA if the BVM fails.
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QUESTION 8 zm




What intervention improves outcomes with ROSC after cardiac arrest?
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ANSWER

Targeted temperature management. 32-36 C
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QUESTION 9 zm




A shunt means there is perfusion without ventilation. What disease process is an exa
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mple of a shunt? zm zm zm




ANSWER