CEN RESPIRATORY QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
Which respiratory emergency presents with fever, cough, pleuritic chest pain, and
crackles that do not clear with coughing?
Asthma, pulmonary edema, chronic bronchitis OR Pneumonia Correct answer-
Pneumonia
Pneumonia presents with fever, cough, pleuritic chest pain, and lung sounds (such as
crackles) that do not usually clear with coughing..
Which respiratory emergency causes permanent abnormal enlargement of the air
spaces?
Asthma, pulmonary edema, emphysema, pulmonary embolus Correct answer-
Emphysema
Patients with emphysema have a permanent, abnormal enlargement of air spaces.
Asthma, pulmonary edema, and pulmonary embolus do not result in permanent alveolar
changes.
A woman, age 53, presents to the emergency department with shortness of breath.
Which other finding should make you suspect that pulmonary embolism is the cause?
Tachypnea, productive cough, calf pain, pleuritic chest pain Correct answer- Calf pain
for the past week
Most pulmonary emboli originate in the deep veins of the legs, which could cause
prolonged calf pain.
Tachypnea, productive cough, and pleuritic chest pain are common, nonspecific signs
and symptoms of many respiratory conditions.
A man, age 72, presents to the emergency department with respiratory distress. He
arrived with portable oxygen from home and is now sitting in a tripod position. Your
assessment reveals a barrel chest. Which respiratory condition should you suspect?
Pulmonary embolism, asthma, emphysema, acute bronchitis Correct answer-
Emphysema
Barrel chest, home oxygen therapy, and the use of the tripod position are classic
presentations in a patient with emphysema. Pulmonary embolism, asthma, and acute
bronchitis are not associated with these findings.
Which statement best defines ventilation?
, Ventilation is the
1. mechanical flow of air into and out of the lungs.
2. mechanical perfusion of air into and out of the lungs
3. mechanical respiration of air into and out of the lungs
4. mechanical diffusion of air into and out of the lungs Correct answer- Ventilation is the
mechanical flow of air into and out of the lungs.
Negative intrathoracic pressure causes a vacuum effect, pulling air into the lungs during
inspiration. During expiration, the negative pressure decreases and air is passively
expelled. Cilia (hairlike structures in the passageways) help move air toward the alveoli
and move mucus and debris out of the pulmonary system. Mucus-secreting goblet cells
help maintain the sterility of the lower airway. Surfactant allows the alveoli to remain
open. Oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged at the cellular level in the alveoli and
pulmonary capillaries.
define perfusion Correct answer- the transport of blood to the tissues
define respirations Correct answer- the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide at the
cellular level.
define diffusion Correct answer- Diffusion occurs when particles in fluid move from an
area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.
Which respiratory emergency causes increased fluid in the lungs?
emphysema, pulmonary embolus, penumonia, pulmonary edema Correct answer-
Pulmonary edema
Pulmonary edema causes increased fluid in the lungs.
Emphysema, pulmonary embolus, and pneumonia typically are not related to fluid
overload.
For a patient who presents with a severe exacerbation of asthma, administration of
which agent is the priority?
Prednisone (Deltasone) albuterol Magnesium sulfate Theophylline (Theolair) Correct
answer- Albuterol (Ventolin)
The bronchodilator albuterol (Ventolin) is used to relieve airflow obstruction, as in a
severe exacerbation of asthma.
Prednisone (Deltasone) or intravenous steroids are commonly administered to decrease
airway inflammation.
Magnesium sulfate may be administered to a patient with moderate to severe
exacerbations who has not adequately responded to nebulized bronchodilators.
ANSWERS
Which respiratory emergency presents with fever, cough, pleuritic chest pain, and
crackles that do not clear with coughing?
Asthma, pulmonary edema, chronic bronchitis OR Pneumonia Correct answer-
Pneumonia
Pneumonia presents with fever, cough, pleuritic chest pain, and lung sounds (such as
crackles) that do not usually clear with coughing..
Which respiratory emergency causes permanent abnormal enlargement of the air
spaces?
Asthma, pulmonary edema, emphysema, pulmonary embolus Correct answer-
Emphysema
Patients with emphysema have a permanent, abnormal enlargement of air spaces.
Asthma, pulmonary edema, and pulmonary embolus do not result in permanent alveolar
changes.
A woman, age 53, presents to the emergency department with shortness of breath.
Which other finding should make you suspect that pulmonary embolism is the cause?
Tachypnea, productive cough, calf pain, pleuritic chest pain Correct answer- Calf pain
for the past week
Most pulmonary emboli originate in the deep veins of the legs, which could cause
prolonged calf pain.
Tachypnea, productive cough, and pleuritic chest pain are common, nonspecific signs
and symptoms of many respiratory conditions.
A man, age 72, presents to the emergency department with respiratory distress. He
arrived with portable oxygen from home and is now sitting in a tripod position. Your
assessment reveals a barrel chest. Which respiratory condition should you suspect?
Pulmonary embolism, asthma, emphysema, acute bronchitis Correct answer-
Emphysema
Barrel chest, home oxygen therapy, and the use of the tripod position are classic
presentations in a patient with emphysema. Pulmonary embolism, asthma, and acute
bronchitis are not associated with these findings.
Which statement best defines ventilation?
, Ventilation is the
1. mechanical flow of air into and out of the lungs.
2. mechanical perfusion of air into and out of the lungs
3. mechanical respiration of air into and out of the lungs
4. mechanical diffusion of air into and out of the lungs Correct answer- Ventilation is the
mechanical flow of air into and out of the lungs.
Negative intrathoracic pressure causes a vacuum effect, pulling air into the lungs during
inspiration. During expiration, the negative pressure decreases and air is passively
expelled. Cilia (hairlike structures in the passageways) help move air toward the alveoli
and move mucus and debris out of the pulmonary system. Mucus-secreting goblet cells
help maintain the sterility of the lower airway. Surfactant allows the alveoli to remain
open. Oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged at the cellular level in the alveoli and
pulmonary capillaries.
define perfusion Correct answer- the transport of blood to the tissues
define respirations Correct answer- the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide at the
cellular level.
define diffusion Correct answer- Diffusion occurs when particles in fluid move from an
area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.
Which respiratory emergency causes increased fluid in the lungs?
emphysema, pulmonary embolus, penumonia, pulmonary edema Correct answer-
Pulmonary edema
Pulmonary edema causes increased fluid in the lungs.
Emphysema, pulmonary embolus, and pneumonia typically are not related to fluid
overload.
For a patient who presents with a severe exacerbation of asthma, administration of
which agent is the priority?
Prednisone (Deltasone) albuterol Magnesium sulfate Theophylline (Theolair) Correct
answer- Albuterol (Ventolin)
The bronchodilator albuterol (Ventolin) is used to relieve airflow obstruction, as in a
severe exacerbation of asthma.
Prednisone (Deltasone) or intravenous steroids are commonly administered to decrease
airway inflammation.
Magnesium sulfate may be administered to a patient with moderate to severe
exacerbations who has not adequately responded to nebulized bronchodilators.
