FISDAP AIRWAY AND
BREATHING EXAM 2025 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
A 42-year old female is having trouble breathing. She has dysphagia and stridor. You should
suspect: - ANS Epiglottitis
Overinflating the distal cuff of an endotracheal tube can cause: - ANS ischemia of the
tracheal wall
A hospice patient has developed dyspnea. Raspy sounds are coming from his tracheostomy
tube. You should: - ANS Assess and suction if needed
When using the Macintosh blade for orotracheal intubation, the blade: - ANS -Fits into the
vallecula
A 58-yo male has a newly placed stoma and is experiencing difficulty breathing. Vital signs are P
104, R 22 and labored, SpO2 83%. How can you rapidly confirm that his stoma is clear? -
ANS -Insert a soft catheter completely through the stoma
A 48 yo patient is choking on a hot dog. He is unresponsive, apneic, and has a strong pulse.
Chest compressions are ineffective at relieving the obstruction. You should: - ANS Use
laryngoscopy and Magill forceps to remove the object
A 19 yo female is unresponsive. Her pupils are nonreactive, she has dried vomit on her
oropharynx, and bilateral rhonchi in her lungs. Vital signs are P 60, R 6. What should you
suspect? - ANS -Recent aspiration
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, A 28 yo male was driving his motorcycle at 45 mph when it hit a parked car. He was not wearing
a helmet. He is supine with an open fracture to his maxilla. Vital signs are P 120, R 4. What
should you do? - ANS -Perform a surgical cricothyrotomy
EM Responders are performing BVM ventilations on a pt in respiratory arrest. The pt's
abdomen is distended. After you intubate the pt. you notice resistance when you squeeze the
BVM. Lung sounds are diminished bilaterally, neck veins are normal, and the trachea is midline.
You should: - ANS -Insert a nasogastric tube
When moving a pt that is endotrachially intubated, which is the most common life-threatening
hazard? - ANS -Dislodging the tube
Which of the following is a complication caused by orotracheal intubation? - ANS -The right
mainstem bronchi is intubated
A 21 yo male was eating dinner and drinking beer when he suddenly grasped his throat. He is
unable to speak or cough. What should you do? - ANS -Abdominal thrusts
An unresponsive cancer pt is suffering from respiratory acidosis after wearing too many
fentanyl patches. You are managing her airway and have established an IV. Your next treatment
priority should be ventilation at: - ANS -18x per min with 2mg naloxone
What is the maximum allowable time for each individual intubation attempt? - ANS -30 secs
A 71 yo female complains of dyspnea and pedal edema. Her husband tells you that she had
trouble breathing one hour ago. She is no unresponsive and breathing 34 times per minute with
minimal chest wall movement. What should you do? - ANS -Begin PPV with a BVM at 15 lpm
What is the main determinant of respirations in a late stage COPD patient? - ANS -Arterial
PCO2
A 5 yo pt swallowed bleach. He is unresponsive , apneic, and drooling. You should: - ANS -
Insert an endotracheal tube
Copyright ©2025 BRIGHTSTARS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
BREATHING EXAM 2025 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
A 42-year old female is having trouble breathing. She has dysphagia and stridor. You should
suspect: - ANS Epiglottitis
Overinflating the distal cuff of an endotracheal tube can cause: - ANS ischemia of the
tracheal wall
A hospice patient has developed dyspnea. Raspy sounds are coming from his tracheostomy
tube. You should: - ANS Assess and suction if needed
When using the Macintosh blade for orotracheal intubation, the blade: - ANS -Fits into the
vallecula
A 58-yo male has a newly placed stoma and is experiencing difficulty breathing. Vital signs are P
104, R 22 and labored, SpO2 83%. How can you rapidly confirm that his stoma is clear? -
ANS -Insert a soft catheter completely through the stoma
A 48 yo patient is choking on a hot dog. He is unresponsive, apneic, and has a strong pulse.
Chest compressions are ineffective at relieving the obstruction. You should: - ANS Use
laryngoscopy and Magill forceps to remove the object
A 19 yo female is unresponsive. Her pupils are nonreactive, she has dried vomit on her
oropharynx, and bilateral rhonchi in her lungs. Vital signs are P 60, R 6. What should you
suspect? - ANS -Recent aspiration
Copyright ©2025 BRIGHTSTARS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
, A 28 yo male was driving his motorcycle at 45 mph when it hit a parked car. He was not wearing
a helmet. He is supine with an open fracture to his maxilla. Vital signs are P 120, R 4. What
should you do? - ANS -Perform a surgical cricothyrotomy
EM Responders are performing BVM ventilations on a pt in respiratory arrest. The pt's
abdomen is distended. After you intubate the pt. you notice resistance when you squeeze the
BVM. Lung sounds are diminished bilaterally, neck veins are normal, and the trachea is midline.
You should: - ANS -Insert a nasogastric tube
When moving a pt that is endotrachially intubated, which is the most common life-threatening
hazard? - ANS -Dislodging the tube
Which of the following is a complication caused by orotracheal intubation? - ANS -The right
mainstem bronchi is intubated
A 21 yo male was eating dinner and drinking beer when he suddenly grasped his throat. He is
unable to speak or cough. What should you do? - ANS -Abdominal thrusts
An unresponsive cancer pt is suffering from respiratory acidosis after wearing too many
fentanyl patches. You are managing her airway and have established an IV. Your next treatment
priority should be ventilation at: - ANS -18x per min with 2mg naloxone
What is the maximum allowable time for each individual intubation attempt? - ANS -30 secs
A 71 yo female complains of dyspnea and pedal edema. Her husband tells you that she had
trouble breathing one hour ago. She is no unresponsive and breathing 34 times per minute with
minimal chest wall movement. What should you do? - ANS -Begin PPV with a BVM at 15 lpm
What is the main determinant of respirations in a late stage COPD patient? - ANS -Arterial
PCO2
A 5 yo pt swallowed bleach. He is unresponsive , apneic, and drooling. You should: - ANS -
Insert an endotracheal tube
Copyright ©2025 BRIGHTSTARS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
