FCCS Review & Pretest Study Guide Latest Update
2026 | Pass Exam Prep
1. What is the target SpO2 level for patients with NSTEMI or STEMI?
90% or higher
96% or higher
94% or higher
92% or higher
2. Describe the physiological mechanism behind pulsus paradoxus and its
clinical significance.
Pulsus paradoxus occurs when there is an exaggerated drop in
systolic blood pressure during inspiration due to increased
intrathoracic pressure, which can indicate conditions like cardiac
tamponade or severe asthma.
Pulsus paradoxus is a sign of increased blood volume in the thoracic
cavity, indicating heart failure.
Pulsus paradoxus is characterized by a consistent blood pressure
drop during expiration, indicating respiratory failure.
Pulsus paradoxus is a normal physiological response to exercise and
does not indicate any underlying condition.
3. What technique should be used instead of neck extension during manual
assisted ventilation for a patient with respiratory distress and spinal motion
restriction?
Mouth-to-mouth ventilation
Jaw thrust technique
Chin lift
, Neck extension
4. A 53-year-old male with a history of tobacco presents to the emergency
department complaining of severe, ripping substernal chest pain that
radiates to his back. His blood pressure is 175/92. Chest X-ray reveals a
widened mediastinum. What is his most likely diagnosis?
Pneumothorax
Acute coronary syndrome
Aortic dissection
Mitral stenosis
5. You are treating a pt in the ED with hemorrhagic shock. He has a non-
compressible hemorrhage that you are struggling to control. What method
of resuscitation do you use?
Resuscitation with blood products immediately
Send him straight to the OR
Hemostatic-hypotensive resuscitation
Fluid resuscitation
6. Which of the following parameters may be a late sign of cardiovascular
disturbance signaling failure of the compensatory mechanisms?
Bradycardia
Tachycardia
Hypotension
Hypertension
,7. What laboratory finding is associated with a worse prognosis in patients
exhibiting hypotension and acidemia?
Acidemia on blood gas analysis
Elevated serum lactic acid
Tachypnea
Hypotension
8. Objective finding which confirms successful intubation?
Equal chest rise
Condensation in the tube
Bilateral lung sounds
Waveform capnography
9. In a scenario where a patient in ventricular fibrillation is unresponsive and
CPR has been initiated, what should be the next step after 2 minutes of CPR?
Contact the family for consent before proceeding.
Defibrillation.
Continue CPR for another 5 minutes without interruption.
Attempt to intubate the patient immediately.
10. Patient presents after trauma with absent breath sounds on the left, tracheal
deviation to the right, JVD, and hypotension. What should you do first?
needle decompression/chest tube
CXR
fluid and blood resuscitation
, analgesics
11. In a scenario where a neutropenic patient develops septic shock, what
additional management strategies should be implemented alongside
antibiotic therapy?
Immediate surgical intervention
Nutritional support via enteral feeding
Fluid resuscitation and vasopressor support
High-dose corticosteroids
12. What is the primary indication for administering 3% normal saline (NS) in
patients with hyponatremia?
Hypernatremia
Severe symptomatic hyponatremia
Mild asymptomatic hyponatremia
Fluid overload
13. What is the common type of respiratory failure linked to drug overdose in
suicide cases?
Hyperventilation
Hypoventilation
Restrictive
Obstructive
14. Which of the following medical therapy is the best option to give to patients
with bleeding esophageal varices while waiting for endoscopy?
IV tranexamic
2026 | Pass Exam Prep
1. What is the target SpO2 level for patients with NSTEMI or STEMI?
90% or higher
96% or higher
94% or higher
92% or higher
2. Describe the physiological mechanism behind pulsus paradoxus and its
clinical significance.
Pulsus paradoxus occurs when there is an exaggerated drop in
systolic blood pressure during inspiration due to increased
intrathoracic pressure, which can indicate conditions like cardiac
tamponade or severe asthma.
Pulsus paradoxus is a sign of increased blood volume in the thoracic
cavity, indicating heart failure.
Pulsus paradoxus is characterized by a consistent blood pressure
drop during expiration, indicating respiratory failure.
Pulsus paradoxus is a normal physiological response to exercise and
does not indicate any underlying condition.
3. What technique should be used instead of neck extension during manual
assisted ventilation for a patient with respiratory distress and spinal motion
restriction?
Mouth-to-mouth ventilation
Jaw thrust technique
Chin lift
, Neck extension
4. A 53-year-old male with a history of tobacco presents to the emergency
department complaining of severe, ripping substernal chest pain that
radiates to his back. His blood pressure is 175/92. Chest X-ray reveals a
widened mediastinum. What is his most likely diagnosis?
Pneumothorax
Acute coronary syndrome
Aortic dissection
Mitral stenosis
5. You are treating a pt in the ED with hemorrhagic shock. He has a non-
compressible hemorrhage that you are struggling to control. What method
of resuscitation do you use?
Resuscitation with blood products immediately
Send him straight to the OR
Hemostatic-hypotensive resuscitation
Fluid resuscitation
6. Which of the following parameters may be a late sign of cardiovascular
disturbance signaling failure of the compensatory mechanisms?
Bradycardia
Tachycardia
Hypotension
Hypertension
,7. What laboratory finding is associated with a worse prognosis in patients
exhibiting hypotension and acidemia?
Acidemia on blood gas analysis
Elevated serum lactic acid
Tachypnea
Hypotension
8. Objective finding which confirms successful intubation?
Equal chest rise
Condensation in the tube
Bilateral lung sounds
Waveform capnography
9. In a scenario where a patient in ventricular fibrillation is unresponsive and
CPR has been initiated, what should be the next step after 2 minutes of CPR?
Contact the family for consent before proceeding.
Defibrillation.
Continue CPR for another 5 minutes without interruption.
Attempt to intubate the patient immediately.
10. Patient presents after trauma with absent breath sounds on the left, tracheal
deviation to the right, JVD, and hypotension. What should you do first?
needle decompression/chest tube
CXR
fluid and blood resuscitation
, analgesics
11. In a scenario where a neutropenic patient develops septic shock, what
additional management strategies should be implemented alongside
antibiotic therapy?
Immediate surgical intervention
Nutritional support via enteral feeding
Fluid resuscitation and vasopressor support
High-dose corticosteroids
12. What is the primary indication for administering 3% normal saline (NS) in
patients with hyponatremia?
Hypernatremia
Severe symptomatic hyponatremia
Mild asymptomatic hyponatremia
Fluid overload
13. What is the common type of respiratory failure linked to drug overdose in
suicide cases?
Hyperventilation
Hypoventilation
Restrictive
Obstructive
14. Which of the following medical therapy is the best option to give to patients
with bleeding esophageal varices while waiting for endoscopy?
IV tranexamic
