AIR METHODS Critical Care
Comprehensive Resource To Help You Ace
2026-2027 Includes Frequently Tested
Questions With ELABORATED 100% Correct
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
Guaranteed Pass First Attempt!!
Current Update!!
1. What is oxygenation? - ANSWER Supplying oxygen to body's cells
2. What is ventilation? - ANSWER INTAKE PROBLEM
Movement of gasses in and out of alveoli
-Ex: asthma causes bronchoconstriction which leads to impaired ventilation
3. What is perfusion? - ANSWER CARDIAC PROBLEM
movement of oxygenated blood to tissues
4. What is work of breathing (WOB)? - ANSWER effort required to inspire
and expire
5. What is diffusion? - ANSWER EXCHANGE PROBLEM
, Movement of O2/CO2 from higher to lower pressure
6. What is lung compliance? - ANSWER lungs ability to change in volume
(stretch) with inhalation and exhalation
7. What is oxygen toxicity? - ANSWER prolonged exposure to high
concentrations of FiO2 exposure, can cause decreased lung compliance and
atelectasis (collapsed lung) can occur
8. What makes a high pressure alarm go off on a vent? - ANSWER patient
biting on tube, kinks in tube, secretions in airway, anxiety, fear, pain,
coughing, gagging, mucous plugs, fighting vent, increased airway resistance,
decreased lung compliance
9. What makes a low pressure alarm go off on a vent? - ANSWER leaks in
ventilation, disconnection from tubing or patient disconnection, cuff leak,
tube out of position.SHOULD BE ASSESSED FIRST
10. What medications can be given to provide comfort and reduce stress in
patients receiving mechanical ventilation? - ANSWER Sedatives:
propofol, Ativan, Versed, Precedex
Analgesics: Fentanyl, morphine
Paralytics: Cistracrium, Nimbex, vecuronium,
11. How do we know when a patient is ready to be weaned off the vent? -
ANSWER PaO2/FiO2 ratio >150-250, PEEP < 5-8, FiO2 < 0.4,
Hemodynamically stable, no vasopressors/stable HR, Able to initiate a
, breath, Conduct a SBT to see if they can breathe for 30-120 minutes, Chest
Xray clear, Minimal secretions, Normal breath sounds
12. Type 1 ARF hypoventilation - ANSWER -drug overdose that suppresses
respirations
-neurologic disorders that decrease respirations
-abdominal/thoracic surgery (pain with respirations)
-may be associated with a rise in CO2 (the rise in CO2 is being produced in the
tissues is delivered to the lungs but is not released from the body)
13. Type 1 ARF: intrapulmonary shunting - ANSWER -normal for some blood
to not engage in gas exchange
-but if large amount it can lead to decrease in PaO2
-inadequate ventilation with normal perfusion
14. Causes of intrapulmonary shunting - ANSWER -pneumonia
-atelectasis
-pulmonary edema
15. ARF type 1: V/Q mismatch - ANSWER -there is a reduction in perfusion or
ventilation
-should equal 1.0
16. If V is greater than Q then greater than 1.0 means.... - ANSWER
pulmonary embolism
, 17. If V is less than Q and less than 1.0.... - ANSWER pneumonia or pulmonary
edema
18. Type 1 ARF: diffusion defects - ANSWER movement from high to low
concentration affected due to an increase in space
19. 6 barriers to the diffusion of O2 and CO2 - ANSWER -surfactant
-alveolar epithelium
-interstitial fluid
-capillary endothelium'
-plasma
-RBC membrane (interstitial fluid or COPD)
20. What is the paco2 in type 2 ARF - ANSWER -PaCO2 greater than 50mmHg
21. ARF type 2: ventilation failure - ANSWER -hypoventilation
-PaCO2 rises (hypercapnia)
-increases cerebral blood flow
-ICP increases
-level of consciousness decreases (restlessness, anxious, decreased LOC)
-coma
Comprehensive Resource To Help You Ace
2026-2027 Includes Frequently Tested
Questions With ELABORATED 100% Correct
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
Guaranteed Pass First Attempt!!
Current Update!!
1. What is oxygenation? - ANSWER Supplying oxygen to body's cells
2. What is ventilation? - ANSWER INTAKE PROBLEM
Movement of gasses in and out of alveoli
-Ex: asthma causes bronchoconstriction which leads to impaired ventilation
3. What is perfusion? - ANSWER CARDIAC PROBLEM
movement of oxygenated blood to tissues
4. What is work of breathing (WOB)? - ANSWER effort required to inspire
and expire
5. What is diffusion? - ANSWER EXCHANGE PROBLEM
, Movement of O2/CO2 from higher to lower pressure
6. What is lung compliance? - ANSWER lungs ability to change in volume
(stretch) with inhalation and exhalation
7. What is oxygen toxicity? - ANSWER prolonged exposure to high
concentrations of FiO2 exposure, can cause decreased lung compliance and
atelectasis (collapsed lung) can occur
8. What makes a high pressure alarm go off on a vent? - ANSWER patient
biting on tube, kinks in tube, secretions in airway, anxiety, fear, pain,
coughing, gagging, mucous plugs, fighting vent, increased airway resistance,
decreased lung compliance
9. What makes a low pressure alarm go off on a vent? - ANSWER leaks in
ventilation, disconnection from tubing or patient disconnection, cuff leak,
tube out of position.SHOULD BE ASSESSED FIRST
10. What medications can be given to provide comfort and reduce stress in
patients receiving mechanical ventilation? - ANSWER Sedatives:
propofol, Ativan, Versed, Precedex
Analgesics: Fentanyl, morphine
Paralytics: Cistracrium, Nimbex, vecuronium,
11. How do we know when a patient is ready to be weaned off the vent? -
ANSWER PaO2/FiO2 ratio >150-250, PEEP < 5-8, FiO2 < 0.4,
Hemodynamically stable, no vasopressors/stable HR, Able to initiate a
, breath, Conduct a SBT to see if they can breathe for 30-120 minutes, Chest
Xray clear, Minimal secretions, Normal breath sounds
12. Type 1 ARF hypoventilation - ANSWER -drug overdose that suppresses
respirations
-neurologic disorders that decrease respirations
-abdominal/thoracic surgery (pain with respirations)
-may be associated with a rise in CO2 (the rise in CO2 is being produced in the
tissues is delivered to the lungs but is not released from the body)
13. Type 1 ARF: intrapulmonary shunting - ANSWER -normal for some blood
to not engage in gas exchange
-but if large amount it can lead to decrease in PaO2
-inadequate ventilation with normal perfusion
14. Causes of intrapulmonary shunting - ANSWER -pneumonia
-atelectasis
-pulmonary edema
15. ARF type 1: V/Q mismatch - ANSWER -there is a reduction in perfusion or
ventilation
-should equal 1.0
16. If V is greater than Q then greater than 1.0 means.... - ANSWER
pulmonary embolism
, 17. If V is less than Q and less than 1.0.... - ANSWER pneumonia or pulmonary
edema
18. Type 1 ARF: diffusion defects - ANSWER movement from high to low
concentration affected due to an increase in space
19. 6 barriers to the diffusion of O2 and CO2 - ANSWER -surfactant
-alveolar epithelium
-interstitial fluid
-capillary endothelium'
-plasma
-RBC membrane (interstitial fluid or COPD)
20. What is the paco2 in type 2 ARF - ANSWER -PaCO2 greater than 50mmHg
21. ARF type 2: ventilation failure - ANSWER -hypoventilation
-PaCO2 rises (hypercapnia)
-increases cerebral blood flow
-ICP increases
-level of consciousness decreases (restlessness, anxious, decreased LOC)
-coma
