Critical care UPMC Exam Questions
and Answers
Vent settings - ANSWER-Assist control, simv, airway pressure release ventilation,
pressure support
What is assist control - ANSWER-Delivers set number of breaths each breath pt takes it
will still deliver same amount of TV with each breath
RR, TV, FiO2, peep levels in assist control - ANSWER-RR is 12-18o TV (amount of air
in lungs in each breath) is usually set between 400 mL for a small person and up to 800
mL for a larger person.o Measured as a percentage,+FiO2+is the amount of oxygen the
patient requires to maintain appropriate blood oxygen levels.o PEEP+is the pressure
that's applied at the end of the expiratory phase that helps keep the alveoli from
snapping shut when the patient exhales. PEEP is measured in centimeters of water and
is often seen at levels between 5 and 10 cm H2O
What is simv - ANSWER-Delivers set number of breaths each breath patient takes it will
not deliver any TV
What is aprv - ANSWER-Uses an inverse ratio to achieve higher levels of pressure
meaning that the exploratory phase is longer than the inspiratory phase. Usually used
for ARDS
What is pressure support - ANSWER-Ps is considered a weaning mode used to assess
the patients readiness for extubation . Pt needs to initiate breath and is assisted with set
amount of pressure
Troubleshooting vent - ANSWER-Picture
Normal abgs - ANSWER-pH: 7.35 - 7.45
PaCO2: 35 - 45
HCO3: 22 - 26
PaO2: 80 - 100
What does increased co2 mean - ANSWER-Hypoventilation
What does decreased co2 mean - ANSWER-Hyperventilation
, When does cushings triad happen - ANSWER-When increased ICP decreases the
cerebral blood flow significantly. A response is triggered that increased arterial pressure
in order to overcome the increased ICP
what is crushing's triad? - ANSWER-Hypertension, widening pulse pressure,
Bradycardia, bradypnea
Parts of Glasgow coma scale - ANSWER-eye opening 4, verbal response 5, motor
response 6
Scores of Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) - ANSWER-Severe head injury- 8 or less
Mod head injury- 9 to 12
Mild head injury- 13 to 15
Range of points in NIHSS - ANSWER-0-42
Cranial nerves - ANSWER-1. Olfactory
2. Optic
3. Oculomotor
4. Trochlear
5. Trigeminal
6. Abducens
7. Facial
8. Vestibulocochlear
9. Glossopharyngeal
10. Vagus
11. Accessory
12. Hypoglossal
Common symptoms of meningitis - ANSWER-fever, headache, vomiting, stiff neck,
photophobia, skin rash, petechiae
Isolation precautions for meningitis - ANSWER-droplet precautions - gloves, gown,
goggles, masks and face sheild
Aneurysm clipping comolications - ANSWER-Vasospasm, stroke, seizure, bleeding, and
clip not placed correctly which may not completely block aneurysm or blocks normal
artery
Quadriplegia complications - ANSWER-loss of bladder and bowel control, pressure
sores, blood clots, respiratory problems, autonomic dysre6exia (This means that irrita
%on or pain below the site of your injury may send a signal which will not reach the
brain, but will cause a nerve signal that disrupts your body's func%ons. As your heart
rate drops, your blood pressure may rise, pu5ng you at risk for a stroke), spas%c
muscles, related injuries, and pain
and Answers
Vent settings - ANSWER-Assist control, simv, airway pressure release ventilation,
pressure support
What is assist control - ANSWER-Delivers set number of breaths each breath pt takes it
will still deliver same amount of TV with each breath
RR, TV, FiO2, peep levels in assist control - ANSWER-RR is 12-18o TV (amount of air
in lungs in each breath) is usually set between 400 mL for a small person and up to 800
mL for a larger person.o Measured as a percentage,+FiO2+is the amount of oxygen the
patient requires to maintain appropriate blood oxygen levels.o PEEP+is the pressure
that's applied at the end of the expiratory phase that helps keep the alveoli from
snapping shut when the patient exhales. PEEP is measured in centimeters of water and
is often seen at levels between 5 and 10 cm H2O
What is simv - ANSWER-Delivers set number of breaths each breath patient takes it will
not deliver any TV
What is aprv - ANSWER-Uses an inverse ratio to achieve higher levels of pressure
meaning that the exploratory phase is longer than the inspiratory phase. Usually used
for ARDS
What is pressure support - ANSWER-Ps is considered a weaning mode used to assess
the patients readiness for extubation . Pt needs to initiate breath and is assisted with set
amount of pressure
Troubleshooting vent - ANSWER-Picture
Normal abgs - ANSWER-pH: 7.35 - 7.45
PaCO2: 35 - 45
HCO3: 22 - 26
PaO2: 80 - 100
What does increased co2 mean - ANSWER-Hypoventilation
What does decreased co2 mean - ANSWER-Hyperventilation
, When does cushings triad happen - ANSWER-When increased ICP decreases the
cerebral blood flow significantly. A response is triggered that increased arterial pressure
in order to overcome the increased ICP
what is crushing's triad? - ANSWER-Hypertension, widening pulse pressure,
Bradycardia, bradypnea
Parts of Glasgow coma scale - ANSWER-eye opening 4, verbal response 5, motor
response 6
Scores of Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) - ANSWER-Severe head injury- 8 or less
Mod head injury- 9 to 12
Mild head injury- 13 to 15
Range of points in NIHSS - ANSWER-0-42
Cranial nerves - ANSWER-1. Olfactory
2. Optic
3. Oculomotor
4. Trochlear
5. Trigeminal
6. Abducens
7. Facial
8. Vestibulocochlear
9. Glossopharyngeal
10. Vagus
11. Accessory
12. Hypoglossal
Common symptoms of meningitis - ANSWER-fever, headache, vomiting, stiff neck,
photophobia, skin rash, petechiae
Isolation precautions for meningitis - ANSWER-droplet precautions - gloves, gown,
goggles, masks and face sheild
Aneurysm clipping comolications - ANSWER-Vasospasm, stroke, seizure, bleeding, and
clip not placed correctly which may not completely block aneurysm or blocks normal
artery
Quadriplegia complications - ANSWER-loss of bladder and bowel control, pressure
sores, blood clots, respiratory problems, autonomic dysre6exia (This means that irrita
%on or pain below the site of your injury may send a signal which will not reach the
brain, but will cause a nerve signal that disrupts your body's func%ons. As your heart
rate drops, your blood pressure may rise, pu5ng you at risk for a stroke), spas%c
muscles, related injuries, and pain
