FCCS POST TEST REVIEW EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
VERIFIED.
Most important indicator that a patient has a severe illness? - ANS Tachypnea
3 respiratory types, and their criteria - ANS Hypoxemic (PaO2 <50-60)
Hypercapnic (PaCO2 >50, pH <7.36)
Mixed
Delta gap (formula, when and why it's used) - ANS 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) - ANS 1.5[HCO3] + 8 +/- 2
If compensation is adequate in acid/base issues
How AG changes with albumin changes - ANS Decreases 2.5-3 for every 1 decrease in
albumin
Hemodynamic changes after intubation - ANS Hypo/hypertension
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 1 OF 6
, Arrhythmia
Tachycardia
Pressure support equation for BiPAP - ANS IPAP - EPAP
3 types of vent cycles - ANS Volume (preset tidal volume, relieves WOB the most)
Time (constant pressure of time)
Flow (constant pressure until inspiratory flow is below 25% of peak)
Goal tidal volume - ANS 10 cc/kg
Goal FiO2 on vent - ANS Start at 1.0, then decrease as SpO2 tolerates (goal of 92-94
saturation)
Ppeak - ANS Peak inspiratory pressure
Pplat (try to keep it below ?) - ANS Inspiratory plateau pressure (shows alveolar distention)
30
AutoPEEP (what it is, what it causes, how to fix it) - ANS 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 - ANS Increases autoPEEP, increases Pplat
PaO2 we're usually happy with - ANS >60
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 2 OF 6
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
VERIFIED.
Most important indicator that a patient has a severe illness? - ANS Tachypnea
3 respiratory types, and their criteria - ANS Hypoxemic (PaO2 <50-60)
Hypercapnic (PaCO2 >50, pH <7.36)
Mixed
Delta gap (formula, when and why it's used) - ANS 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) - ANS 1.5[HCO3] + 8 +/- 2
If compensation is adequate in acid/base issues
How AG changes with albumin changes - ANS Decreases 2.5-3 for every 1 decrease in
albumin
Hemodynamic changes after intubation - ANS Hypo/hypertension
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 1 OF 6
, Arrhythmia
Tachycardia
Pressure support equation for BiPAP - ANS IPAP - EPAP
3 types of vent cycles - ANS Volume (preset tidal volume, relieves WOB the most)
Time (constant pressure of time)
Flow (constant pressure until inspiratory flow is below 25% of peak)
Goal tidal volume - ANS 10 cc/kg
Goal FiO2 on vent - ANS Start at 1.0, then decrease as SpO2 tolerates (goal of 92-94
saturation)
Ppeak - ANS Peak inspiratory pressure
Pplat (try to keep it below ?) - ANS Inspiratory plateau pressure (shows alveolar distention)
30
AutoPEEP (what it is, what it causes, how to fix it) - ANS 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 - ANS Increases autoPEEP, increases Pplat
PaO2 we're usually happy with - ANS >60
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 2 OF 6
