Mechanical Ventilation Exam 2
questions with complete solutions
In which of the following situations is volume-controlled ventilation sometimes used? - ANSWER: ✔✔I.
When a precise PaCO2 has to be maintained (some closed-head injuries). II. When more even
distribution of ventilation is required
Spontaneous breath modes include all of the following except: - ANSWER: ✔✔continuous mandatory
ventilation assist-control.
What is the primary physiological effect of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP)? - ANSWER:
✔✔Increase the functional residual capacity (FRC). Useful in treating Refractory Hypoxemia. (when a low
Pa02 doesn't respond to high Fi02
Which of the following is an advantage of intermittent mandatory ventilation (IMV) over continuous
mandatory ventilation (CMV)? - ANSWER: ✔✔IMV results in lower pleural pressures for a given VE.
Compared to using pressure as the trigger variable, what is the major advantage of flow-triggering? -
ANSWER: ✔✔Decreased work of breathing
Which of the following modes is commonly selected for patients with neuromuscular disorders? -
ANSWER: ✔✔VC-IMV
While observing a patient receiving ventilatory support, you notice that some delivered breaths are
begun or ended by the machine, whereas others are begun and ended by the patient. Which of the
following modes of ventilatory support is in force? - ANSWER: ✔✔Intermittent mandatory ventilation
(IMV)
If the pressure waveform of a ventilator remains the same when a patient's lung mechanics change, then
what is the ventilator? - ANSWER: ✔✔Pressure controller
What parameter serves as the baseline variable on all modern ventilators? - ANSWER: ✔✔Pressure
,Mean airway pressure is highest with what waveform? - ANSWER: ✔✔Rectangular pressure
During pressure-targeted ventilation, which of the following settings determine VT? - ANSWER: ✔✔I.
Pressure difference II. Inspiratory time III. Time constant
Flow serves as a limit variable whenever a ventilator controls what? - ANSWER: ✔✔Flow
primary parameters used to alter the breath size in pressure controlled? - ANSWER: ✔✔Positive
inspiratory pressure (PIP) & positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP)
What is the mode of ventilatory support in which patient's inspiratory efforts are augmented with a set
amount of positive airway pressure? - ANSWER: ✔✔Pressure support ventilation (PSV)
A patient is receiving continuous mandatory ventilation in the control mode at a rate of 15/min. The
inspiratory time is 0.8 second. What is the expiratory time? - ANSWER: ✔✔3.2 seconds
What is the application of pressure above atmospheric at the airway throughout expiration during
mechanical ventilation? - ANSWER: ✔✔Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP)
During volume control ventilation, the clinician has control over which of the following? - ANSWER:
✔✔II. Volume waveform III. Flow waveform
During volume-targeted ventilation, which of the following settings determine the machine-delivered
minute volume? - ANSWER: ✔✔I. Volume III. Rate
A patient is receiving continuous mandatory ventilation through a constant flow generator in the control
mode at a rate of 20/min with a VT of 750 mL. The inspiratory time is 1 second. What is the flow? -
ANSWER: ✔✔45 L/min
Which of the following can be used by a ventilator as a conditional variable? - ANSWER: ✔✔I. Volume II.
Pressure III. Flow IV. Time
, While observing a patient receiving ventilatory support, you notice that all delivered breaths are initiated
or terminated by the machine. Which of
the following modes of ventilatory support is in force? - ANSWER: ✔✔Continuous mandatory ventilation
A volume-cycled ventilator provides gas under positive pressure during inspiration until what point? -
ANSWER: ✔✔A preselected volume of gas is expelled from the device.
During mechanical ventilation, what variable causes a breath to begin? - ANSWER: ✔✔Trigger
What is the name of a breath where a patient is able to change the inspiratory time? - ANSWER:
✔✔Patient cycled
A ventilator providing pressure support ventilation to a patient is set to flow trigger on spontaneous
breaths (base flow = 10 L/min; trigger = 3 L/min below base flow). While at the bedside, you observe
that the ventilator trigger rate is much higher than the patient's spontaneous rate, causing noticeable
patient discomfort. Which of the following could be causing this problem? - ANSWER: ✔✔I. Circuit leaks
III. Circuit movement
During volume-targeted ventilation, which of the following settings determine I:E ratio? - ANSWER:
✔✔I. Volume II. Flow III. Rate
You observe that a ventilator reaches a preset pressure early in inspiration but holds it for a specific time,
after which inspiration ends. What mode of ventilatory support is in force? - ANSWER: ✔✔Time cycled
Which of the following are characteristic of a ventilator that functions as a true volume controller? -
ANSWER: ✔✔I. Its pressure waveform changes with changes in lung mechanics.
II. It measures and uses volume to control the volume waveform.
III. Its volume waveform stays constant with changes in lung mechanics.
If lung compliance decreases while a patient is receiving mechanical ventilation with pressure-controlled
continuous mandatory ventilation (PC-CMV), which of the following would occur? - ANSWER: ✔✔tidal
volume decreases
questions with complete solutions
In which of the following situations is volume-controlled ventilation sometimes used? - ANSWER: ✔✔I.
When a precise PaCO2 has to be maintained (some closed-head injuries). II. When more even
distribution of ventilation is required
Spontaneous breath modes include all of the following except: - ANSWER: ✔✔continuous mandatory
ventilation assist-control.
What is the primary physiological effect of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP)? - ANSWER:
✔✔Increase the functional residual capacity (FRC). Useful in treating Refractory Hypoxemia. (when a low
Pa02 doesn't respond to high Fi02
Which of the following is an advantage of intermittent mandatory ventilation (IMV) over continuous
mandatory ventilation (CMV)? - ANSWER: ✔✔IMV results in lower pleural pressures for a given VE.
Compared to using pressure as the trigger variable, what is the major advantage of flow-triggering? -
ANSWER: ✔✔Decreased work of breathing
Which of the following modes is commonly selected for patients with neuromuscular disorders? -
ANSWER: ✔✔VC-IMV
While observing a patient receiving ventilatory support, you notice that some delivered breaths are
begun or ended by the machine, whereas others are begun and ended by the patient. Which of the
following modes of ventilatory support is in force? - ANSWER: ✔✔Intermittent mandatory ventilation
(IMV)
If the pressure waveform of a ventilator remains the same when a patient's lung mechanics change, then
what is the ventilator? - ANSWER: ✔✔Pressure controller
What parameter serves as the baseline variable on all modern ventilators? - ANSWER: ✔✔Pressure
,Mean airway pressure is highest with what waveform? - ANSWER: ✔✔Rectangular pressure
During pressure-targeted ventilation, which of the following settings determine VT? - ANSWER: ✔✔I.
Pressure difference II. Inspiratory time III. Time constant
Flow serves as a limit variable whenever a ventilator controls what? - ANSWER: ✔✔Flow
primary parameters used to alter the breath size in pressure controlled? - ANSWER: ✔✔Positive
inspiratory pressure (PIP) & positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP)
What is the mode of ventilatory support in which patient's inspiratory efforts are augmented with a set
amount of positive airway pressure? - ANSWER: ✔✔Pressure support ventilation (PSV)
A patient is receiving continuous mandatory ventilation in the control mode at a rate of 15/min. The
inspiratory time is 0.8 second. What is the expiratory time? - ANSWER: ✔✔3.2 seconds
What is the application of pressure above atmospheric at the airway throughout expiration during
mechanical ventilation? - ANSWER: ✔✔Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP)
During volume control ventilation, the clinician has control over which of the following? - ANSWER:
✔✔II. Volume waveform III. Flow waveform
During volume-targeted ventilation, which of the following settings determine the machine-delivered
minute volume? - ANSWER: ✔✔I. Volume III. Rate
A patient is receiving continuous mandatory ventilation through a constant flow generator in the control
mode at a rate of 20/min with a VT of 750 mL. The inspiratory time is 1 second. What is the flow? -
ANSWER: ✔✔45 L/min
Which of the following can be used by a ventilator as a conditional variable? - ANSWER: ✔✔I. Volume II.
Pressure III. Flow IV. Time
, While observing a patient receiving ventilatory support, you notice that all delivered breaths are initiated
or terminated by the machine. Which of
the following modes of ventilatory support is in force? - ANSWER: ✔✔Continuous mandatory ventilation
A volume-cycled ventilator provides gas under positive pressure during inspiration until what point? -
ANSWER: ✔✔A preselected volume of gas is expelled from the device.
During mechanical ventilation, what variable causes a breath to begin? - ANSWER: ✔✔Trigger
What is the name of a breath where a patient is able to change the inspiratory time? - ANSWER:
✔✔Patient cycled
A ventilator providing pressure support ventilation to a patient is set to flow trigger on spontaneous
breaths (base flow = 10 L/min; trigger = 3 L/min below base flow). While at the bedside, you observe
that the ventilator trigger rate is much higher than the patient's spontaneous rate, causing noticeable
patient discomfort. Which of the following could be causing this problem? - ANSWER: ✔✔I. Circuit leaks
III. Circuit movement
During volume-targeted ventilation, which of the following settings determine I:E ratio? - ANSWER:
✔✔I. Volume II. Flow III. Rate
You observe that a ventilator reaches a preset pressure early in inspiration but holds it for a specific time,
after which inspiration ends. What mode of ventilatory support is in force? - ANSWER: ✔✔Time cycled
Which of the following are characteristic of a ventilator that functions as a true volume controller? -
ANSWER: ✔✔I. Its pressure waveform changes with changes in lung mechanics.
II. It measures and uses volume to control the volume waveform.
III. Its volume waveform stays constant with changes in lung mechanics.
If lung compliance decreases while a patient is receiving mechanical ventilation with pressure-controlled
continuous mandatory ventilation (PC-CMV), which of the following would occur? - ANSWER: ✔✔tidal
volume decreases
