TMC E| 90 QUESTIONS| WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS
What is a trigger? Correct Answer: the parameter that starts the inspiratory phase of a positive
pressure breath
What is the control variable? Correct Answer: the primary variable the ventilator adjusts to
achieve inspiration
What is the limit variable? Correct Answer: Establishes maximum valvue that a variable con
reach during inspiration
What is the cycling variable? Correct Answer: Ends the breath
What are the four types of cycling variables that are available with positive pressure ventilation?
Correct Answer: 1. volume
2. pressure
3. time
4. flow
What are 3 breaths available with positive pressure ventilation? Correct Answer: 1.
Spontaneous=all pt
2. mandatory=vent controls all
3. assisted= pt starts vent finishes
What should you consider if there is a low pressure alarm going off? Correct Answer: 1. pt
disconnect
2. leak in vent
3. insufficient flow
4. endotrach/trach leak
What should you consider if there is a high pressure alarm going off? Correct Answer: 1. pt
obstruction (ett,pneumo, raw secretions)
2. equipment obstruction
What should you consider if there is a low exhaled volume alarm going off? Correct Answer: 1.
pt disconnect
2. low spon Vt
Accuracy of ventilators should be verified what devices would verify volume, pressure and flow
accuracy? Correct Answer: vol=spirometer
pres=mercury or water manometer
flow=rotameter
What are indications for continuous mechanical ventilation? Correct Answer: 1. Apnea
, 2. Acute vent failure/resp fail
3. impending vent failure
4. oxygenation
What is the normal vital capacity bedside parameters? Correct Answer: 65-75 mL/kg (less than
10 mL/kg is acceptable)
What is the normal MIP/NIF for bedside parameters? Correct Answer: 80 cmH2O (20 cmH2o is
acceptable)
What is the normal respiratory rate for bedside parameters? Correct Answer: 12-20 bpm (8-
20bpm is acceptable)
what is the normal spontaneous Vt for bedside parameters? Correct Answer: 5-8 mL/kg (less
than 5 mL/kg is acceptable)
What is the normal minute ventilation for bedside parameters? Correct Answer: 5-6 L/min (less
than 10 is acceptable)
What is the normal MEP for bedside parameters? Correct Answer: 160 cmH2O ( 40 cmH2o is
acceptable)
What is the normal Vd/Vt (deadspace) for physiologic assessment/calc? Correct Answer: 20-
40% (less than 60 is acceptable)
What is the normal Cst for physiologic assessment/calc? Correct Answer: 60-100 mL/cmH20
(less than 25 is acceptable)
What is the normal A-aDO2 (21% O2) for physiologic assessment/calc? Correct Answer: 5-10
torr
What is the normal A-aDO2 (100% O2) for physiologic assessment/ calc? Correct Answer: 25-
65 torr
What is the normal Qs/Qt (shunting) for physiologic assessment/calc? Correct Answer: less than
5% (less than 20% is acceptable)
What is the initial setting for VC/Vt? Correct Answer: 5-10 mL/kg of ideal body weight
What is the initial setting for pressure control? Correct Answer: Pplat from VC or to achieve
target Vt, or less than 35 cmH2O
What is the initial setting for respiratory rate? Correct Answer: 10-20 bpm
Formula for ideal body weight? Correct Answer: 50 kg + (2 X inches over 5 ft)
SOLUTIONS
What is a trigger? Correct Answer: the parameter that starts the inspiratory phase of a positive
pressure breath
What is the control variable? Correct Answer: the primary variable the ventilator adjusts to
achieve inspiration
What is the limit variable? Correct Answer: Establishes maximum valvue that a variable con
reach during inspiration
What is the cycling variable? Correct Answer: Ends the breath
What are the four types of cycling variables that are available with positive pressure ventilation?
Correct Answer: 1. volume
2. pressure
3. time
4. flow
What are 3 breaths available with positive pressure ventilation? Correct Answer: 1.
Spontaneous=all pt
2. mandatory=vent controls all
3. assisted= pt starts vent finishes
What should you consider if there is a low pressure alarm going off? Correct Answer: 1. pt
disconnect
2. leak in vent
3. insufficient flow
4. endotrach/trach leak
What should you consider if there is a high pressure alarm going off? Correct Answer: 1. pt
obstruction (ett,pneumo, raw secretions)
2. equipment obstruction
What should you consider if there is a low exhaled volume alarm going off? Correct Answer: 1.
pt disconnect
2. low spon Vt
Accuracy of ventilators should be verified what devices would verify volume, pressure and flow
accuracy? Correct Answer: vol=spirometer
pres=mercury or water manometer
flow=rotameter
What are indications for continuous mechanical ventilation? Correct Answer: 1. Apnea
, 2. Acute vent failure/resp fail
3. impending vent failure
4. oxygenation
What is the normal vital capacity bedside parameters? Correct Answer: 65-75 mL/kg (less than
10 mL/kg is acceptable)
What is the normal MIP/NIF for bedside parameters? Correct Answer: 80 cmH2O (20 cmH2o is
acceptable)
What is the normal respiratory rate for bedside parameters? Correct Answer: 12-20 bpm (8-
20bpm is acceptable)
what is the normal spontaneous Vt for bedside parameters? Correct Answer: 5-8 mL/kg (less
than 5 mL/kg is acceptable)
What is the normal minute ventilation for bedside parameters? Correct Answer: 5-6 L/min (less
than 10 is acceptable)
What is the normal MEP for bedside parameters? Correct Answer: 160 cmH2O ( 40 cmH2o is
acceptable)
What is the normal Vd/Vt (deadspace) for physiologic assessment/calc? Correct Answer: 20-
40% (less than 60 is acceptable)
What is the normal Cst for physiologic assessment/calc? Correct Answer: 60-100 mL/cmH20
(less than 25 is acceptable)
What is the normal A-aDO2 (21% O2) for physiologic assessment/calc? Correct Answer: 5-10
torr
What is the normal A-aDO2 (100% O2) for physiologic assessment/ calc? Correct Answer: 25-
65 torr
What is the normal Qs/Qt (shunting) for physiologic assessment/calc? Correct Answer: less than
5% (less than 20% is acceptable)
What is the initial setting for VC/Vt? Correct Answer: 5-10 mL/kg of ideal body weight
What is the initial setting for pressure control? Correct Answer: Pplat from VC or to achieve
target Vt, or less than 35 cmH2O
What is the initial setting for respiratory rate? Correct Answer: 10-20 bpm
Formula for ideal body weight? Correct Answer: 50 kg + (2 X inches over 5 ft)
