MICU EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What are parameters for nasal cannula - Answer -1-6L, 20-40% fio2
What are parameters for vent face mask - Answer -6-10 L, 40-60% fio2
What are parameters for non rebreather - Answer -10-15 L, 60-80% fio2
What are methods for non invasive ventilation - Answer -HFNC, CPAP (increases O2,
good for CHF), bipap (IPAP can increase TV to decrease CO2, good for COPD)
What does v/q > 1 mean - Answer -more ventilation than perfusion
What is physiologic dead space - Answer -alveolar dead space + anatomic dead space
What are components of ARDS diagnosis - Answer -A: acute
R: respiratory in etiology
D: diffuse bilateral infiltrates
S: severity (P/F ratio)
What are different levels of severity for ARDS - Answer -mild p/f ratio < 300
Moderate < 200
Severe < 100
How does positive pressure effect cardiac performance - Answer -reduces preload,
increases pulmonary vascular resistance (impeding RV output) - cardiac output can be
lowered
What is course of malignant hyperthermia - Answer -first sign is persistent rise in
ETCO2 - then gets rigidity and renal failure
Treatment: stop anesthestic and dantrolene - 3 days
What are meds that can cause serotonin syndrome - Answer -- MAOI
- linezolid
- amphetamines
- MDMA, coke
- SSRI, TCA, dextromethorphan
- meperidine
- fentanyl
- tramadol
- lithium
- buspirone
- sumatriptan
- LSD, fanfluramine
, What is physiology of hypothermia protective measures - Answer -cutaneous
vasoconstriction occurs to reduce convective heat loss, shivering doubles metabolic
heat production
What are symptoms of mild hypothermia (32-35) - Answer -confusion, pallor, shivering,
tachycardia
What are symptoms of moderate hypothermia (28-31.9) - Answer -lethargy, reduced
shivering, bradycardic/bradypnea
What are symptoms of severe hypothermia (<28) - Answer -apnea, asystole
What is treatment for hypothermia - Answer -external rewarming , internal rewarming if
severe
What is difference between arousal and awareness - Answer -arousal: ability to
experience surroundings
Awareness: ability to understand relationship to surroundings
What are examples of patients being aroused but unaware - Answer -
delirium/dementia, psychosis, vegetative state
What are causes of altered consciousness - Answer -CVA, septic encephalopathy,
delirium, ETOH withdrawal, wernickes, coma
What type of catheter is used for rapid infusion - Answer -large bore with a short length
What is size of peripheral vascular caths - Answer -16-20 gauge, 1-2 inch lengths
What is size of central venous caths - Answer -15-30 cm long (6-12 inches)
EPAP vs IPAP - Answer -EPAP is PEEP (E.g how much pressure is left at the end of
expiration)
IPAP is tidal volume. If you increase it, it is just a different way of increasing tidal
volume.
What are ways to get rid of CO2 - Answer -increased minute ventilation - TV or RR ,
use BIPAP and increase IPAP to increase TV
What increases O2 - Answer -fio2 and PEEP
What does it mean if PIP and plateau pressure are both elevated - Answer -compliance
has decreased
What are parameters for nasal cannula - Answer -1-6L, 20-40% fio2
What are parameters for vent face mask - Answer -6-10 L, 40-60% fio2
What are parameters for non rebreather - Answer -10-15 L, 60-80% fio2
What are methods for non invasive ventilation - Answer -HFNC, CPAP (increases O2,
good for CHF), bipap (IPAP can increase TV to decrease CO2, good for COPD)
What does v/q > 1 mean - Answer -more ventilation than perfusion
What is physiologic dead space - Answer -alveolar dead space + anatomic dead space
What are components of ARDS diagnosis - Answer -A: acute
R: respiratory in etiology
D: diffuse bilateral infiltrates
S: severity (P/F ratio)
What are different levels of severity for ARDS - Answer -mild p/f ratio < 300
Moderate < 200
Severe < 100
How does positive pressure effect cardiac performance - Answer -reduces preload,
increases pulmonary vascular resistance (impeding RV output) - cardiac output can be
lowered
What is course of malignant hyperthermia - Answer -first sign is persistent rise in
ETCO2 - then gets rigidity and renal failure
Treatment: stop anesthestic and dantrolene - 3 days
What are meds that can cause serotonin syndrome - Answer -- MAOI
- linezolid
- amphetamines
- MDMA, coke
- SSRI, TCA, dextromethorphan
- meperidine
- fentanyl
- tramadol
- lithium
- buspirone
- sumatriptan
- LSD, fanfluramine
, What is physiology of hypothermia protective measures - Answer -cutaneous
vasoconstriction occurs to reduce convective heat loss, shivering doubles metabolic
heat production
What are symptoms of mild hypothermia (32-35) - Answer -confusion, pallor, shivering,
tachycardia
What are symptoms of moderate hypothermia (28-31.9) - Answer -lethargy, reduced
shivering, bradycardic/bradypnea
What are symptoms of severe hypothermia (<28) - Answer -apnea, asystole
What is treatment for hypothermia - Answer -external rewarming , internal rewarming if
severe
What is difference between arousal and awareness - Answer -arousal: ability to
experience surroundings
Awareness: ability to understand relationship to surroundings
What are examples of patients being aroused but unaware - Answer -
delirium/dementia, psychosis, vegetative state
What are causes of altered consciousness - Answer -CVA, septic encephalopathy,
delirium, ETOH withdrawal, wernickes, coma
What type of catheter is used for rapid infusion - Answer -large bore with a short length
What is size of peripheral vascular caths - Answer -16-20 gauge, 1-2 inch lengths
What is size of central venous caths - Answer -15-30 cm long (6-12 inches)
EPAP vs IPAP - Answer -EPAP is PEEP (E.g how much pressure is left at the end of
expiration)
IPAP is tidal volume. If you increase it, it is just a different way of increasing tidal
volume.
What are ways to get rid of CO2 - Answer -increased minute ventilation - TV or RR ,
use BIPAP and increase IPAP to increase TV
What increases O2 - Answer -fio2 and PEEP
What does it mean if PIP and plateau pressure are both elevated - Answer -compliance
has decreased
