Hall Respiratory Exam Questions and
Correct Answers
Question 1
A 22-year-old patient who sustained a closed head injury is brought to the operating
room (OR) from the ICU for placement of a dural bolt. Hemoglobin has been stable at
15g/dL. Blood gas analysis immediately before induction reveals a Pao2 of 120mmHg
and an arterial saturation of 100%. After induction, the Pao2 rises to 150mmHg and
the saturation remains the same. How has the oxygen content of this patient's blood
changed?
A.It has increased by 10%
B.It has increased by 5%
C.It has increased by less than 1%
D.Cannot be determined without Paco2
Correct Answer
C.
O2 content= 1.39×[Hgb]×arterial saturation+(0.003×Pao2)
First oxygen content=(1.39×15×1.0)+0.003×120=21.21 mL / dL
Second oxygen content=(1.39×15×1.0)+0.003×150=21.30 mL/dL
The difference in the oxygen content is 0.09mL/dL. This represents a change of
0.42%
Question 2
A disadvantage of using propofol for prolonged sedation (days) of intubated patients
in the ICU is potential
A. Acidosis
B. Tachyphylaxis
C. Hyperglycemia
D. Bradycardia
Correct Answer
A.
Page 1 of 19
,Question 3
An acute increase in Paco2 of 10mmHg will result in a decrease in pH of
'A.0.01pH unit
B.0.02pH unit
C.0.04pH unit
D.0.08pH unit
Correct Answer
D.
Question 4
Which of the following drugs is the best choice for treating hypotension in the setting
of severe acidemia?A.Norepinephrine
B.Epinephrine
C.Phenylephrine
D.Vasopressin
Correct Answer
D.
Question 5
The normal vital capacity for a 70-kg man is
A.1L
B.2L
C.5L
D.7L
Correct Answer
C.
VC = 60-70 mL/kg
→ 70 x 70 = 4900 mL = ~5 L
Page 2 of 19
, Question 6
Which of the following statements concerning the distribution of O2 and CO2 in the
upright lungs is TRUE?
A.Pao2 is greater at the apex than at the base
B.Paco2 is greater at the apex than at the base
C.Both Pao2 and Paco2 are greater at the apex than at the base
D.Both Pao2 and Paco2 are greater at the base than at the apex
Correct Answer
A.
The ventilation/perfusion ratio is greater at the apex of the lungs than at the base of
the lung
Question 7
The anatomic dead space in a 70-kg man is
A.50mL
B.150mL
C.250mL
D.500mL
Correct Answer
B.
In the adult, the anatomic dead space is approximately 2mL/kg
Question 8
Which of the following maneuvers is LEAST likely to raise arterial saturation in a
patient in whom the endotracheal tube (ETT) is seated in the right main-stem
bronchus? The patient has normal lung function.
A.Inflating the pulmonary artery catheter balloon(in the left pulmonary artery)
B.Raising hemoglobin from 8 to 12mg/dL
C.Raising Fio2from 0.8 to 1.0
D.Increasing cardiac output from 2 to 5L/min
Correct Answer
C.
Raising the Fio2 from 80% to 100% will do little if anything to improve arterial
saturation because the blood exiting the "working" lung is already fully saturated.
Page 3 of 19
Correct Answers
Question 1
A 22-year-old patient who sustained a closed head injury is brought to the operating
room (OR) from the ICU for placement of a dural bolt. Hemoglobin has been stable at
15g/dL. Blood gas analysis immediately before induction reveals a Pao2 of 120mmHg
and an arterial saturation of 100%. After induction, the Pao2 rises to 150mmHg and
the saturation remains the same. How has the oxygen content of this patient's blood
changed?
A.It has increased by 10%
B.It has increased by 5%
C.It has increased by less than 1%
D.Cannot be determined without Paco2
Correct Answer
C.
O2 content= 1.39×[Hgb]×arterial saturation+(0.003×Pao2)
First oxygen content=(1.39×15×1.0)+0.003×120=21.21 mL / dL
Second oxygen content=(1.39×15×1.0)+0.003×150=21.30 mL/dL
The difference in the oxygen content is 0.09mL/dL. This represents a change of
0.42%
Question 2
A disadvantage of using propofol for prolonged sedation (days) of intubated patients
in the ICU is potential
A. Acidosis
B. Tachyphylaxis
C. Hyperglycemia
D. Bradycardia
Correct Answer
A.
Page 1 of 19
,Question 3
An acute increase in Paco2 of 10mmHg will result in a decrease in pH of
'A.0.01pH unit
B.0.02pH unit
C.0.04pH unit
D.0.08pH unit
Correct Answer
D.
Question 4
Which of the following drugs is the best choice for treating hypotension in the setting
of severe acidemia?A.Norepinephrine
B.Epinephrine
C.Phenylephrine
D.Vasopressin
Correct Answer
D.
Question 5
The normal vital capacity for a 70-kg man is
A.1L
B.2L
C.5L
D.7L
Correct Answer
C.
VC = 60-70 mL/kg
→ 70 x 70 = 4900 mL = ~5 L
Page 2 of 19
, Question 6
Which of the following statements concerning the distribution of O2 and CO2 in the
upright lungs is TRUE?
A.Pao2 is greater at the apex than at the base
B.Paco2 is greater at the apex than at the base
C.Both Pao2 and Paco2 are greater at the apex than at the base
D.Both Pao2 and Paco2 are greater at the base than at the apex
Correct Answer
A.
The ventilation/perfusion ratio is greater at the apex of the lungs than at the base of
the lung
Question 7
The anatomic dead space in a 70-kg man is
A.50mL
B.150mL
C.250mL
D.500mL
Correct Answer
B.
In the adult, the anatomic dead space is approximately 2mL/kg
Question 8
Which of the following maneuvers is LEAST likely to raise arterial saturation in a
patient in whom the endotracheal tube (ETT) is seated in the right main-stem
bronchus? The patient has normal lung function.
A.Inflating the pulmonary artery catheter balloon(in the left pulmonary artery)
B.Raising hemoglobin from 8 to 12mg/dL
C.Raising Fio2from 0.8 to 1.0
D.Increasing cardiac output from 2 to 5L/min
Correct Answer
C.
Raising the Fio2 from 80% to 100% will do little if anything to improve arterial
saturation because the blood exiting the "working" lung is already fully saturated.
Page 3 of 19
