PARAMEDIC EXAM
STUDY PREP - AIRWAY
AND BREATHING |
2026/2027 UPDATE |
QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS | WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTION!!
A child in respiratory distress may grunt as the child breathes. This is a result of
(A) increase tidal volume.
(B) an increased respiratory rate.
(C) creating pressure to help maintain open airways.
(D) an indication that the child is tired and will progress to respiratory arrest. - answer-
C. Grunting involves exhaling against a partially closed glottis. This creates pressure to
help maintain open lower airways similar to pursed-lip breathing in adults with COPD.
This short low-pitched sound is often mistaken for whimpering and suggests severe
hypoxia.
Respiratory acidosis is caused by
(A) an excess of bicarbonate.
(B) excess carbon dioxide retention.
(C) a loss of bicarbonate.
(D) excess carbon dioxide excretion. - answer- B. Respiratory acidosis is caused by
excess carbon dioxide retention.
Scenario:
You are using an end-tidal carbon dioxide detector as a tool to assist for proper
endotracheal intubation placement.
,Question:
The absence of carbon dioxide in exhaled air indicates the endotracheal tube has been
(A) placed in the right mainstem bronchus.
(B) correctly placed in the trachea.
(C) placed in the esophagus.
(D) placed in the left mainstem bronchus. - answer- C. The absence of carbon dioxide
likely indicates that the endotracheal tube has been placed in the esophagus. Verifying
correct endotracheal tube placement is absolutely essential. ETCO2 is only one method
to assist in verification.
Scenario:
You are using an end-tidal carbon dioxide detector as a tool to assist for proper
endotracheal intubation placement.
Question:
Your next action is to
(A) deflate the cuff, pull the endotracheal tube back 2 cm, and reassess placement.
(B) secure the endotracheal tube and confirm correct placement by auscultation.
(C) inflate the distal cuff with 7-10 cc of air and secure the endotracheal tube.
(D) remove the endotracheal tube and provide several ventilations prior to attempting
intubation again. - answer- D. The endotracheal tube is likely placed in the esophagus.
Your next action is to remove the endotracheal tube and provide several ventilations
with supplemental oxygen prior to attempting another intubation.
Which of the following drugs is used for rapid sequence intubation?
(A) Vecuronium
(B) Succinylcholine
(C) Lidocaine and atropine
(D) All of the above - answer- D. All of the above. Vecuronium is a common
nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocker. Lidocaine is commonly used in RSI to prevent
dysrhythmias associated with stimulation of the glottis associated with intubation.
Atropine is often administered to decrease the incidence of bradycardia associated with
the administration of succinylcholine.
You are called for a 54-year-old woman who is unconscious. Your assessment reveals
the patient to be apneic and pulseless. Initial management of this patient's airway
should include
(A) assisted ventilation with a bag-valve device at 6-10 LPM.
, (B) assisted ventilation with a nonrebreather mask at 10-15 LPM.
(C)immediate nasotracheal intubation and ventilation with a bag-valve device.
(D) insertion of an oropharyngeal airway and ventilation with a bag-valve device. -
answer- D. Of the choice listed, insertion of an oropharyngeal airway and ventilating
with a bag-valve device is the best answer. (A). is incorrect because it utilizes a
nonrebreather mask to assist ventilations. nonrebreather are not designed for or
capable of assisting ventilations. (C). is incorrect because an apneic patient cannot be
nasotracheally intubated.
The Esophageal Tracheal Combitube (ETCT) and the pharyngotracheal lumen airway
(PTL) are similar because
(A) neither requires assessment for accurate placement.
(B)both require manipulation of the head and neck for insertion.
(C)neither is inserted blindly.
(D) None of the above. - answer- D. None of the above are correct. (A). is in correct
because both devices require assessment for accurate placement. With the PTL you
begin ventilation though a short tube (the one without the stylet); with the Combitube,
you begin ventilation through a longer blue tube. If chest rise and presence of breath
sounds are not observe, you must switch immediately to the other ventilation port and
reassess. (B). is incorrect because both are inserted in the neutral position and no
manipulation of the head and neck is required for insertion. (C). is incorrect because
both devices are inserted blindly.
Breath sounds such as crackles and rhonchi that are not normally heard are defined as
----- breath sounds.
(A) bronchial
(B) adventitious
(C) vesicular
(D) bronchovesicular - answer- B. Adventitious breath sounds are considered abnormal
sounds such as crackles and rhonchi.
Which of the following correctly describes the flow of air from outside the body into the
trachea?
(A) Nose, nasopharynx, laryngopharynx, oropharynx, larynx, trachea
(B) Nose, nasopharynx, larynx, laryngopharynx, oropharynx, trachea
(C) Nose, nasal cavities, nasopharynx, oropharynx, laryngopharynx, larynx, trachea
(D) Nose, nasal cavities, laryngopharynx, nasopharynx, oropharynx, larynx, trachea -
answer- C. This is a simple anatomy and physiology question. The nose, nasal cavities,
nasopharynx, oropharynx, larynx, and trachea correctly described the flow of air.
You are called for an unresponsive 29-year-old man. Bystanders report he has been
drinking heavily all day. Assessment reveals the patient to be responsive only to painful
STUDY PREP - AIRWAY
AND BREATHING |
2026/2027 UPDATE |
QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS | WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTION!!
A child in respiratory distress may grunt as the child breathes. This is a result of
(A) increase tidal volume.
(B) an increased respiratory rate.
(C) creating pressure to help maintain open airways.
(D) an indication that the child is tired and will progress to respiratory arrest. - answer-
C. Grunting involves exhaling against a partially closed glottis. This creates pressure to
help maintain open lower airways similar to pursed-lip breathing in adults with COPD.
This short low-pitched sound is often mistaken for whimpering and suggests severe
hypoxia.
Respiratory acidosis is caused by
(A) an excess of bicarbonate.
(B) excess carbon dioxide retention.
(C) a loss of bicarbonate.
(D) excess carbon dioxide excretion. - answer- B. Respiratory acidosis is caused by
excess carbon dioxide retention.
Scenario:
You are using an end-tidal carbon dioxide detector as a tool to assist for proper
endotracheal intubation placement.
,Question:
The absence of carbon dioxide in exhaled air indicates the endotracheal tube has been
(A) placed in the right mainstem bronchus.
(B) correctly placed in the trachea.
(C) placed in the esophagus.
(D) placed in the left mainstem bronchus. - answer- C. The absence of carbon dioxide
likely indicates that the endotracheal tube has been placed in the esophagus. Verifying
correct endotracheal tube placement is absolutely essential. ETCO2 is only one method
to assist in verification.
Scenario:
You are using an end-tidal carbon dioxide detector as a tool to assist for proper
endotracheal intubation placement.
Question:
Your next action is to
(A) deflate the cuff, pull the endotracheal tube back 2 cm, and reassess placement.
(B) secure the endotracheal tube and confirm correct placement by auscultation.
(C) inflate the distal cuff with 7-10 cc of air and secure the endotracheal tube.
(D) remove the endotracheal tube and provide several ventilations prior to attempting
intubation again. - answer- D. The endotracheal tube is likely placed in the esophagus.
Your next action is to remove the endotracheal tube and provide several ventilations
with supplemental oxygen prior to attempting another intubation.
Which of the following drugs is used for rapid sequence intubation?
(A) Vecuronium
(B) Succinylcholine
(C) Lidocaine and atropine
(D) All of the above - answer- D. All of the above. Vecuronium is a common
nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocker. Lidocaine is commonly used in RSI to prevent
dysrhythmias associated with stimulation of the glottis associated with intubation.
Atropine is often administered to decrease the incidence of bradycardia associated with
the administration of succinylcholine.
You are called for a 54-year-old woman who is unconscious. Your assessment reveals
the patient to be apneic and pulseless. Initial management of this patient's airway
should include
(A) assisted ventilation with a bag-valve device at 6-10 LPM.
, (B) assisted ventilation with a nonrebreather mask at 10-15 LPM.
(C)immediate nasotracheal intubation and ventilation with a bag-valve device.
(D) insertion of an oropharyngeal airway and ventilation with a bag-valve device. -
answer- D. Of the choice listed, insertion of an oropharyngeal airway and ventilating
with a bag-valve device is the best answer. (A). is incorrect because it utilizes a
nonrebreather mask to assist ventilations. nonrebreather are not designed for or
capable of assisting ventilations. (C). is incorrect because an apneic patient cannot be
nasotracheally intubated.
The Esophageal Tracheal Combitube (ETCT) and the pharyngotracheal lumen airway
(PTL) are similar because
(A) neither requires assessment for accurate placement.
(B)both require manipulation of the head and neck for insertion.
(C)neither is inserted blindly.
(D) None of the above. - answer- D. None of the above are correct. (A). is in correct
because both devices require assessment for accurate placement. With the PTL you
begin ventilation though a short tube (the one without the stylet); with the Combitube,
you begin ventilation through a longer blue tube. If chest rise and presence of breath
sounds are not observe, you must switch immediately to the other ventilation port and
reassess. (B). is incorrect because both are inserted in the neutral position and no
manipulation of the head and neck is required for insertion. (C). is incorrect because
both devices are inserted blindly.
Breath sounds such as crackles and rhonchi that are not normally heard are defined as
----- breath sounds.
(A) bronchial
(B) adventitious
(C) vesicular
(D) bronchovesicular - answer- B. Adventitious breath sounds are considered abnormal
sounds such as crackles and rhonchi.
Which of the following correctly describes the flow of air from outside the body into the
trachea?
(A) Nose, nasopharynx, laryngopharynx, oropharynx, larynx, trachea
(B) Nose, nasopharynx, larynx, laryngopharynx, oropharynx, trachea
(C) Nose, nasal cavities, nasopharynx, oropharynx, laryngopharynx, larynx, trachea
(D) Nose, nasal cavities, laryngopharynx, nasopharynx, oropharynx, larynx, trachea -
answer- C. This is a simple anatomy and physiology question. The nose, nasal cavities,
nasopharynx, oropharynx, larynx, and trachea correctly described the flow of air.
You are called for an unresponsive 29-year-old man. Bystanders report he has been
drinking heavily all day. Assessment reveals the patient to be responsive only to painful
