FISDAP Exam 2026 | Airway and Breathing
Exam | All Questions and Correct Answers
| Verified Answers | Just Released
A 60-year-old woman presents with acute respiratory distress. She is conscious
and alert, but restless. Her respiratory rate is 26
breaths/min with adequate chest expansion, her breath sounds are clear to
auscultation bilaterally, and her oxygen saturation is 84%.
Which of the following is the MOST appropriate treatment for this patient?
A) Supplemental oxygen with a nonrebreathing mask
B) A nasopharyngeal airway and assisted ventilations
C) A nasopharyngeal airway and supplemental oxygen
D) A nasal cannula with the flowmeter set at 4 to 6 L/min ---------CORRECT
ANSWER-----------------A) Supplemental oxygen with a nonrebreathing mask
Although the patient is restless (a sign of hypoxemia), she is conscious and alert
and able to maintain her own airway; therefore, an airway adjunct is not
needed at this point. Furthermore, her respirations, although increased in rate,
are producing adequate tidal volume as evidenced by adequate chest
expansion. Therefore, she is not in need of assisted ventilation at this point.
Considering her oxygen saturation of 84%, the most appropriate treatment
would be to administer high-flow oxygen with a nonrebreathing mask and
closely monitor her for signs of inadequate breathing (ie, shallow breaths
[reduced
,tidal volume], decreased level of consciousness, cyanosis). An acutely
hypoxemic patient often requires more oxygen than a nasal cannula can
provide.
Assessment of an older man with respiratory distress reveals that his chest has a
barrel-shaped appearance and he is exhaling through
pursed lips. What is the pathophysiology of these findings?
A) Decreased tidal volume
B) Increased residual volume
C) Increased vital capacity
D) Widespread bronchodilation ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------B)
Increased residual volume
Pursed-lip breathing and a barrel-shaped chest are classic signs of emphysema,
a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Emphysema is
caused by destruction of the alveolar walls and a loss of pulmonary surfactant.
As a result, the alveoli cannot easily expand and recoil and the process of
pulmonary gas exchange is impaired. The patient with emphysema has chronic
air trapping in the lungs due secondary to incomplete alveolar emptying; as a
result, residual volume increases. Residual volume is the amount of air
remaining in the lungs following a complete exhalation. Decreased tidal volume
would
manifest with shallow breathing; it would not explain the pursed-lip breathing
and barrel-shaped chest. Vital capacity is the maximum amount of air one can
exhale after a completion inhalation; in patients with emphysema, vital capacity
would decrease, not increase. Widespread bronchospasm, such as what is
,seen in patients with asthma, would resu lt in wheezing; it would not explain
the pursed-lip breathing and barrel-shaped chest.
A properly placed oropharyngeal airway:
A) prevents aspiration if the patient regurgitates.
B) keeps the tongue off of the posterior pharynx.
C) eliminates the need to perform a head tilt-chin lift.
D) will not stimulate a conscious patient's gag reflex. ---------CORRECT ANSWER----
-------------B) keeps the tongue off of the posterior pharynx.
The oropharyngeal (oral) airway is an artificial adjunct used to keep the tongue
away from the posterior pharynx (back of the throat), thereby preventing it
from blocking the upper airway. It is used in conjunction with, not in lieu of, the
head tilt-chin lift or jaw-thrust maneuver to maintain patency of the airway.
The oral airway will not prevent aspiration if the patient regurgitates because it
does not occlude the esophagus or protect the trachea. The oral airway is
contraindicated in conscious patients and in all patients, even those who are
unconscious, who have an intact gag reflex. Stimulation of the gag reflex may
cause vomiting and aspiration.
To obtain the MOST reliable assessment of a patient's tidal volume, you should:
A) assess for retractions.
B) listen for airway noises.
C) count the respiratory rate.
, D) look at the rise of the chest. ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------D) look at
the rise of the chest.
Tidal volume is the amount of air, in milliliters (mL), breathed into or out of the
lungs in a single breath. The most effective (and practical) way to assess tidal
volume is to evaluate the rise of the patient's chest. If the patient's chest rises
minimally during inhalation, his or her respirations are shallow; shallow
respirations reflect a reduced tidal volume.
While ventilating an unresponsive man with a bag-mask device, you hear gurgling
in his upper airway. You should:
A) reposition the patient's airway.
B) suction the patient's oropharynx.
C) position the patient onto his side.
D) squeeze the bag with less force. ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------C)
position the patient onto his side.
A gurgling sound indicates the presence of vomitus, blood, or other secretions in
the airway. If this is noted, you should immediately position the patient
onto his or her side to allow the secretions to drain. With the patient on his or
her side, suction the airway until the secretions are removed. To continue
ventilating a patient whose airway is full of secretions virtually assures that he
or she will aspirate.
Exam | All Questions and Correct Answers
| Verified Answers | Just Released
A 60-year-old woman presents with acute respiratory distress. She is conscious
and alert, but restless. Her respiratory rate is 26
breaths/min with adequate chest expansion, her breath sounds are clear to
auscultation bilaterally, and her oxygen saturation is 84%.
Which of the following is the MOST appropriate treatment for this patient?
A) Supplemental oxygen with a nonrebreathing mask
B) A nasopharyngeal airway and assisted ventilations
C) A nasopharyngeal airway and supplemental oxygen
D) A nasal cannula with the flowmeter set at 4 to 6 L/min ---------CORRECT
ANSWER-----------------A) Supplemental oxygen with a nonrebreathing mask
Although the patient is restless (a sign of hypoxemia), she is conscious and alert
and able to maintain her own airway; therefore, an airway adjunct is not
needed at this point. Furthermore, her respirations, although increased in rate,
are producing adequate tidal volume as evidenced by adequate chest
expansion. Therefore, she is not in need of assisted ventilation at this point.
Considering her oxygen saturation of 84%, the most appropriate treatment
would be to administer high-flow oxygen with a nonrebreathing mask and
closely monitor her for signs of inadequate breathing (ie, shallow breaths
[reduced
,tidal volume], decreased level of consciousness, cyanosis). An acutely
hypoxemic patient often requires more oxygen than a nasal cannula can
provide.
Assessment of an older man with respiratory distress reveals that his chest has a
barrel-shaped appearance and he is exhaling through
pursed lips. What is the pathophysiology of these findings?
A) Decreased tidal volume
B) Increased residual volume
C) Increased vital capacity
D) Widespread bronchodilation ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------B)
Increased residual volume
Pursed-lip breathing and a barrel-shaped chest are classic signs of emphysema,
a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Emphysema is
caused by destruction of the alveolar walls and a loss of pulmonary surfactant.
As a result, the alveoli cannot easily expand and recoil and the process of
pulmonary gas exchange is impaired. The patient with emphysema has chronic
air trapping in the lungs due secondary to incomplete alveolar emptying; as a
result, residual volume increases. Residual volume is the amount of air
remaining in the lungs following a complete exhalation. Decreased tidal volume
would
manifest with shallow breathing; it would not explain the pursed-lip breathing
and barrel-shaped chest. Vital capacity is the maximum amount of air one can
exhale after a completion inhalation; in patients with emphysema, vital capacity
would decrease, not increase. Widespread bronchospasm, such as what is
,seen in patients with asthma, would resu lt in wheezing; it would not explain
the pursed-lip breathing and barrel-shaped chest.
A properly placed oropharyngeal airway:
A) prevents aspiration if the patient regurgitates.
B) keeps the tongue off of the posterior pharynx.
C) eliminates the need to perform a head tilt-chin lift.
D) will not stimulate a conscious patient's gag reflex. ---------CORRECT ANSWER----
-------------B) keeps the tongue off of the posterior pharynx.
The oropharyngeal (oral) airway is an artificial adjunct used to keep the tongue
away from the posterior pharynx (back of the throat), thereby preventing it
from blocking the upper airway. It is used in conjunction with, not in lieu of, the
head tilt-chin lift or jaw-thrust maneuver to maintain patency of the airway.
The oral airway will not prevent aspiration if the patient regurgitates because it
does not occlude the esophagus or protect the trachea. The oral airway is
contraindicated in conscious patients and in all patients, even those who are
unconscious, who have an intact gag reflex. Stimulation of the gag reflex may
cause vomiting and aspiration.
To obtain the MOST reliable assessment of a patient's tidal volume, you should:
A) assess for retractions.
B) listen for airway noises.
C) count the respiratory rate.
, D) look at the rise of the chest. ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------D) look at
the rise of the chest.
Tidal volume is the amount of air, in milliliters (mL), breathed into or out of the
lungs in a single breath. The most effective (and practical) way to assess tidal
volume is to evaluate the rise of the patient's chest. If the patient's chest rises
minimally during inhalation, his or her respirations are shallow; shallow
respirations reflect a reduced tidal volume.
While ventilating an unresponsive man with a bag-mask device, you hear gurgling
in his upper airway. You should:
A) reposition the patient's airway.
B) suction the patient's oropharynx.
C) position the patient onto his side.
D) squeeze the bag with less force. ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------C)
position the patient onto his side.
A gurgling sound indicates the presence of vomitus, blood, or other secretions in
the airway. If this is noted, you should immediately position the patient
onto his or her side to allow the secretions to drain. With the patient on his or
her side, suction the airway until the secretions are removed. To continue
ventilating a patient whose airway is full of secretions virtually assures that he
or she will aspirate.
