AIR METHODS CRITICAL CARE EXAM 2026
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉Halstead's Sign ANSWER: - Marbled abdomen- bleeding
◉Cullen's sign ANSWER: - ecchymosis in umbilical area, seen with
pancreatitis
◉Murphy's Sign ANSWER: - pain with palpation of the RUQ during
inspiration
-indicative of cholecystitis
◉Factors fetal well-being ANSWER: - 1.) Viability (most important)
2.) Fetal Heart rate
3.) Fetal movement
◉PEEP (positive end expiratory pressure) ANSWER: - -Causes
increased pulmonary vascular resistance
-Can cause hypotension over 15 cmH2O
-Normal: 5 cmH2O
- lowest pressure the lungs will see
,◉steps in resuscitation of the neonate ANSWER: - Dry, warm,
position to open airway, suction mouth then nose
Tactile stimulation (HR<100 or apnea/IR breath rub back and put)
Oxygen near the face
Bag valve mask - unresponsive to tactile stim within a few sec (40-
60bpm)
reposition head, reapply mask, suction again prn, if no response in
30 sec
Intubate - if HR < 60 after PPV for 30 sec, then
Chest compressions - 3:1 ratio (90 compressions / 30 breaths)
Drugs - epinephrine 0.1-0.3ml/kg of 1:10,000, through et tube or
(preferably) through umbilical venous line, volume loss give
10ml/kg NS
◉pulmonary contusion ANSWER: - Chest pain
bruising over sternum
Progressive dyspnea
decreased breath sounds on one side
rales
low sats despite being on o2
hemoptysis
irregular pulse-dysrthymia
,◉ruptured diaphragm ANSWER: - abd contents herniate into the
thoracic cavity compressing the lung
s/s: dyspnea, dysphagia, abd pain, sharp epigastric or chest pain
radiating to L shoulder (Kehr sign), bowel sounds heard in the lung
fields on injured side, decreased breath sounds on injured side.
◉Tracheobronchial injury ANSWER: - 1. hemoptysis
2. subcutaneous emphysema
3. air leak (PNEUMOTHORAX) + PNEUMEDIASTINUM even after
chest tube placement***
- advance ETT below level of injury into Right mainstem
◉esophageal perforation ANSWER: - -fever
-hematemesis
◉Fat embolus ANSWER: - can form when a long bone is fractured
and fat cells from yellow bone marrow are released into the blood
-fever
-rash after fracture
◉Blood loss from humerus fracture ANSWER: - 750 ml
◉blood loss from femur fracture ANSWER: - 1500 ml
, ◉PAWP (pulmonary artery wedge pressure) ANSWER: - - Looks at
the left side of the heart
- If elevated can indicate pulmonary congestion, CHF, cardiogenic
shock
- Do not keep wedged for more than 30 seconds
- Make sure balloon is deflated and have patient cough forcefully
-Normal: 8-12
◉Adult ETT depth ANSWER: - 3 x ETT size or average 19.23 cm
◉Peds ETT depth ANSWER: - 10 + age in years (cm)
◉Neonate ETT depth ANSWER: - 6 + wt in kg (cm)
◉Adjust vent to change Co2 ANSWER: - adjust rate and tidal volume
◉Adjust vent to change oxygenation ANSWER: - adjust PEEP, PAP
◉infant rule of nines ANSWER: - Head and neck - 21%
Each arm - 10%
chest/stomach - 13%
back - 13%
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉Halstead's Sign ANSWER: - Marbled abdomen- bleeding
◉Cullen's sign ANSWER: - ecchymosis in umbilical area, seen with
pancreatitis
◉Murphy's Sign ANSWER: - pain with palpation of the RUQ during
inspiration
-indicative of cholecystitis
◉Factors fetal well-being ANSWER: - 1.) Viability (most important)
2.) Fetal Heart rate
3.) Fetal movement
◉PEEP (positive end expiratory pressure) ANSWER: - -Causes
increased pulmonary vascular resistance
-Can cause hypotension over 15 cmH2O
-Normal: 5 cmH2O
- lowest pressure the lungs will see
,◉steps in resuscitation of the neonate ANSWER: - Dry, warm,
position to open airway, suction mouth then nose
Tactile stimulation (HR<100 or apnea/IR breath rub back and put)
Oxygen near the face
Bag valve mask - unresponsive to tactile stim within a few sec (40-
60bpm)
reposition head, reapply mask, suction again prn, if no response in
30 sec
Intubate - if HR < 60 after PPV for 30 sec, then
Chest compressions - 3:1 ratio (90 compressions / 30 breaths)
Drugs - epinephrine 0.1-0.3ml/kg of 1:10,000, through et tube or
(preferably) through umbilical venous line, volume loss give
10ml/kg NS
◉pulmonary contusion ANSWER: - Chest pain
bruising over sternum
Progressive dyspnea
decreased breath sounds on one side
rales
low sats despite being on o2
hemoptysis
irregular pulse-dysrthymia
,◉ruptured diaphragm ANSWER: - abd contents herniate into the
thoracic cavity compressing the lung
s/s: dyspnea, dysphagia, abd pain, sharp epigastric or chest pain
radiating to L shoulder (Kehr sign), bowel sounds heard in the lung
fields on injured side, decreased breath sounds on injured side.
◉Tracheobronchial injury ANSWER: - 1. hemoptysis
2. subcutaneous emphysema
3. air leak (PNEUMOTHORAX) + PNEUMEDIASTINUM even after
chest tube placement***
- advance ETT below level of injury into Right mainstem
◉esophageal perforation ANSWER: - -fever
-hematemesis
◉Fat embolus ANSWER: - can form when a long bone is fractured
and fat cells from yellow bone marrow are released into the blood
-fever
-rash after fracture
◉Blood loss from humerus fracture ANSWER: - 750 ml
◉blood loss from femur fracture ANSWER: - 1500 ml
, ◉PAWP (pulmonary artery wedge pressure) ANSWER: - - Looks at
the left side of the heart
- If elevated can indicate pulmonary congestion, CHF, cardiogenic
shock
- Do not keep wedged for more than 30 seconds
- Make sure balloon is deflated and have patient cough forcefully
-Normal: 8-12
◉Adult ETT depth ANSWER: - 3 x ETT size or average 19.23 cm
◉Peds ETT depth ANSWER: - 10 + age in years (cm)
◉Neonate ETT depth ANSWER: - 6 + wt in kg (cm)
◉Adjust vent to change Co2 ANSWER: - adjust rate and tidal volume
◉Adjust vent to change oxygenation ANSWER: - adjust PEEP, PAP
◉infant rule of nines ANSWER: - Head and neck - 21%
Each arm - 10%
chest/stomach - 13%
back - 13%
