FCCS POST TEST REVIEW QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS 100% VERIFIED LATEST
UPDATE 2026-27!!
Most important indicator that a patient has a severe illness? - (ANSWER)Tachypnea
3 respiratory types, and their criteria - (ANSWER)Hypoxemic (PaO2 <50-60)
Hypercapnic (PaCO2 >50, pH <7.36)
Mixed
Delta gap (formula, when and why it's used) - (ANSWER)Difference in AG from normal - Difference in
HCO3 from normal
In AG metabolic acidosis it's used. It tells you if there's underlying metabolic alkalosis or respiratory
acidosis with bicarb compensation IN ADDITION to the AG metabolic acidosis. Both of those would result
in a high bicarb to begin with, and a smaller change in bicarb from normal.
Winter's formula (equation, what it measures) - (ANSWER)1.5[HCO3] + 8 +/- 2
If compensation is adequate in acid/base issues
How AG changes with albumin changes - (ANSWER)Decreases 2.5-3 for every 1 decrease in albumin
Hemodynamic changes after intubation - (ANSWER)Hypo/hypertension
Arrhythmia
Tachycardia
Pressure support equation for BiPAP - (ANSWER)IPAP - EPAP
3 types of vent cycles - (ANSWER)Volume (preset tidal volume, relieves WOB the most)
Time (constant pressure of time)
Flow (constant pressure until inspiratory flow is below 25% of peak)
, FCCS POST TEST REVIEW QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS 100% VERIFIED LATEST
UPDATE 2026-27!!
Goal tidal volume - (ANSWER)10 cc/kg
Goal FiO2 on vent - (ANSWER)Start at 1.0, then decrease as SpO2 tolerates (goal of 92-94 saturation)
Ppeak - (ANSWER)Peak inspiratory pressure
Pplat (try to keep it below ?) - (ANSWER)Inspiratory plateau pressure (shows alveolar distention)
30
AutoPEEP (what it is, what it causes, how to fix it) - (ANSWER)Breath stacking
Decreases preload to the heart with positive pressure on the lungs --> hypotension
Decrease RR, decrease inspiration time (goal is to have more time for the lungs to exhale)
Danger of increased PEEP - (ANSWER)Increases autoPEEP, increases Pplat
PaO2 we're usually happy with - (ANSWER)>60
When to consider NPPV vs invasive - (ANSWER)When it's a quickly solved problem in 1-2 days (e.g. COPD
exacerbation)
When the patient can be compliant with working with NPPV
When to consider switching from NPPV to invasive ventilation support - (ANSWER)If things aren't really
improving in a matter of hours
If your therapeutic goals haven't been met in 4-6 hours
Manual decompression (when you use it) - (ANSWER)If patient is air trapping like crazy on the vent, and
you disconnect it and push up on the patients diaphragm to get everything out
UPDATE 2026-27!!
Most important indicator that a patient has a severe illness? - (ANSWER)Tachypnea
3 respiratory types, and their criteria - (ANSWER)Hypoxemic (PaO2 <50-60)
Hypercapnic (PaCO2 >50, pH <7.36)
Mixed
Delta gap (formula, when and why it's used) - (ANSWER)Difference in AG from normal - Difference in
HCO3 from normal
In AG metabolic acidosis it's used. It tells you if there's underlying metabolic alkalosis or respiratory
acidosis with bicarb compensation IN ADDITION to the AG metabolic acidosis. Both of those would result
in a high bicarb to begin with, and a smaller change in bicarb from normal.
Winter's formula (equation, what it measures) - (ANSWER)1.5[HCO3] + 8 +/- 2
If compensation is adequate in acid/base issues
How AG changes with albumin changes - (ANSWER)Decreases 2.5-3 for every 1 decrease in albumin
Hemodynamic changes after intubation - (ANSWER)Hypo/hypertension
Arrhythmia
Tachycardia
Pressure support equation for BiPAP - (ANSWER)IPAP - EPAP
3 types of vent cycles - (ANSWER)Volume (preset tidal volume, relieves WOB the most)
Time (constant pressure of time)
Flow (constant pressure until inspiratory flow is below 25% of peak)
, FCCS POST TEST REVIEW QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS 100% VERIFIED LATEST
UPDATE 2026-27!!
Goal tidal volume - (ANSWER)10 cc/kg
Goal FiO2 on vent - (ANSWER)Start at 1.0, then decrease as SpO2 tolerates (goal of 92-94 saturation)
Ppeak - (ANSWER)Peak inspiratory pressure
Pplat (try to keep it below ?) - (ANSWER)Inspiratory plateau pressure (shows alveolar distention)
30
AutoPEEP (what it is, what it causes, how to fix it) - (ANSWER)Breath stacking
Decreases preload to the heart with positive pressure on the lungs --> hypotension
Decrease RR, decrease inspiration time (goal is to have more time for the lungs to exhale)
Danger of increased PEEP - (ANSWER)Increases autoPEEP, increases Pplat
PaO2 we're usually happy with - (ANSWER)>60
When to consider NPPV vs invasive - (ANSWER)When it's a quickly solved problem in 1-2 days (e.g. COPD
exacerbation)
When the patient can be compliant with working with NPPV
When to consider switching from NPPV to invasive ventilation support - (ANSWER)If things aren't really
improving in a matter of hours
If your therapeutic goals haven't been met in 4-6 hours
Manual decompression (when you use it) - (ANSWER)If patient is air trapping like crazy on the vent, and
you disconnect it and push up on the patients diaphragm to get everything out
