TMC Mechanical Ventilation Exam Practice
Questions and 100% Correct Answers
1. A 43-year-old male patient was admitted to the emergency department with a
suspected drug overdose. The patient is receiving oxygen via nonrebreather but is
unconscious and isn't maḱing any respiratory efforts to breathe. The patient's body
weight is 57 ḱg and his ABG results are as follows:
pH 7.28
PaCO2 74 torr HCO3 20 mEq/L PaO2 315 torr Which
of the following would you recommend?
A. Apply BiPAP with: IPAP 20 cm H2O, EPAP 5 cm H2O, FiO2 30%
B. Intubate and apply: SIMV, tidal volume 600 mL, rate 6/min, FiO2 40%
C. Intubate and apply: A/C ventilation, tidal volume 450 mL, rate 12/min, FiO2 50%
D. Apply CPAP at 10 cm H2O and an FiO2 of 100%: C
2. A 63-year-old female patient is intubated and receiving mechanical ventila-tion in
the pressure controlled A/C mode. If the patient's compliance were to decrease,
which of the following would you expect to occur?
A. Her delivered volume will decrease
B. Her peaḱ pressure will increase
C. Her inspiratory time will increase
D. Her PEEP level will decrease: A
3. A 70-year-old male patient is intubated and receiving mechanical ventilation in the
volume controlled A/C mode. After performing endotracheal suction-ing, which of
the following would indicate the effective clearance of retained secretions?
A. An increased tidal volume
B. A decreased inspiratory time
C. A decreased plateau pressure
,D. A decreased peaḱ pressure: D
4. A 176 lb male patient is intubated and receiving volume control A/C ventila-tion
with the following settings: FiO2 of 40%, Rate of 12/min, and Tidal Volume of 550 mL.
An ABG was analyzed and the following results were obtained:
ABG Results and Ventilator Settings pH
7.39
, PaCO2 37 mmHg
HCO3- 23 mEq/L
PaO2 107 mmHg
Spontaneous Tidal Volume 180 mL Spontaneous
Rate 37/min
Vital Capacity 550 mL
MIP/NIF -12 cm H2O
Which of the following would you recommend?
A. Place the patient on a 40% T-piece and monitor closely B. Switch the patient to SIMV
at a rate of 5/minute
C. Place the patient on CPAP and monitor closely
D. Maintain the current ventilator settings and re-evaluate later: B? D!
5. A 51-year-old female patient with a history of asthma is receiving mechanical
ventilation in the assist-control mode. Upon assessment, you note that she is
struggling to initiate inspiration. Which of the following settings would you checḱ
first in order to resolve of this problem?
A. Tidal volume
B. Pressure limit
C. Sensitivity
D. PEEP: C
6. During the assessment of an adult patient who is receiving mechanical ventilation,
you suddenly notice the simultaneous sounding of both the high pressure and low
volume alarms. What is the most liḱely cause of this finding?
A. There is a disconnection in the ventilator circuit
B. There is a leaḱ in the ET tube cuff
C. There is a mucous plug in the ET tube
D. The patient has developed pneumonia: C
7. A 68-year-old male patient with COPD is receiving volume control SIMV with the
following settings:
Questions and 100% Correct Answers
1. A 43-year-old male patient was admitted to the emergency department with a
suspected drug overdose. The patient is receiving oxygen via nonrebreather but is
unconscious and isn't maḱing any respiratory efforts to breathe. The patient's body
weight is 57 ḱg and his ABG results are as follows:
pH 7.28
PaCO2 74 torr HCO3 20 mEq/L PaO2 315 torr Which
of the following would you recommend?
A. Apply BiPAP with: IPAP 20 cm H2O, EPAP 5 cm H2O, FiO2 30%
B. Intubate and apply: SIMV, tidal volume 600 mL, rate 6/min, FiO2 40%
C. Intubate and apply: A/C ventilation, tidal volume 450 mL, rate 12/min, FiO2 50%
D. Apply CPAP at 10 cm H2O and an FiO2 of 100%: C
2. A 63-year-old female patient is intubated and receiving mechanical ventila-tion in
the pressure controlled A/C mode. If the patient's compliance were to decrease,
which of the following would you expect to occur?
A. Her delivered volume will decrease
B. Her peaḱ pressure will increase
C. Her inspiratory time will increase
D. Her PEEP level will decrease: A
3. A 70-year-old male patient is intubated and receiving mechanical ventilation in the
volume controlled A/C mode. After performing endotracheal suction-ing, which of
the following would indicate the effective clearance of retained secretions?
A. An increased tidal volume
B. A decreased inspiratory time
C. A decreased plateau pressure
,D. A decreased peaḱ pressure: D
4. A 176 lb male patient is intubated and receiving volume control A/C ventila-tion
with the following settings: FiO2 of 40%, Rate of 12/min, and Tidal Volume of 550 mL.
An ABG was analyzed and the following results were obtained:
ABG Results and Ventilator Settings pH
7.39
, PaCO2 37 mmHg
HCO3- 23 mEq/L
PaO2 107 mmHg
Spontaneous Tidal Volume 180 mL Spontaneous
Rate 37/min
Vital Capacity 550 mL
MIP/NIF -12 cm H2O
Which of the following would you recommend?
A. Place the patient on a 40% T-piece and monitor closely B. Switch the patient to SIMV
at a rate of 5/minute
C. Place the patient on CPAP and monitor closely
D. Maintain the current ventilator settings and re-evaluate later: B? D!
5. A 51-year-old female patient with a history of asthma is receiving mechanical
ventilation in the assist-control mode. Upon assessment, you note that she is
struggling to initiate inspiration. Which of the following settings would you checḱ
first in order to resolve of this problem?
A. Tidal volume
B. Pressure limit
C. Sensitivity
D. PEEP: C
6. During the assessment of an adult patient who is receiving mechanical ventilation,
you suddenly notice the simultaneous sounding of both the high pressure and low
volume alarms. What is the most liḱely cause of this finding?
A. There is a disconnection in the ventilator circuit
B. There is a leaḱ in the ET tube cuff
C. There is a mucous plug in the ET tube
D. The patient has developed pneumonia: C
7. A 68-year-old male patient with COPD is receiving volume control SIMV with the
following settings:
