TMC Practice Exam 1 questions with correct answers

You note in the chart of a patient's who is receiving volume control ventilation that the plateau pressure has been increasing over the last 6 hours, while the PEEP levels remains constant. Which of the following would be the most likely cause of this change? Select one: A. development of pulmonary edema B. water accumulation in the ventilator circuit C. partial obstruction of the endotracheal tube D. development of bronchospasm Answer An increase in the plateau pressure relative to baseline (Pplat-PEEP) indicates a decrease in the patient's lung and/or thoracic compliance. Common causes of a decrease in lung compliance are pneumothorax, pulmonary edema, atelectasis and ARDS. Partial obstruction of the ET tube and development of bronchospasm would increase airway resistance and thus increase PIP and the PIP-Pplat pressure difference, but not affect Pplat. The correct answer is: development of pulmonary edema The difference between the mean arterial pressure (MAP) and intracranial pressure (ICP) is the: Select one: A. cerebral perfusion pressure B. cerebral vascular resistance C. blood-brain barrier pressure D. jugular venous pressure Answe