TMC Practice Exam A + B 2023 solution

TMC Practice Exam A + B 2023 solution A mechanically ventilated patient with a tracheostomy tube is on the following settings :PC, SIMV, PIP 30 cm H2O, f 20/min, FIO2 0.60, PEEP 5 cm H2O. The ventilator alarm suddenly begins to sound and on quick examination, the respiratory therapist notices a generalized decrease in breath sounds and a reduction in delivered tidal volume from 650 mL to 500 mL. Which of the following conditions is most likely? A. The patient has been disconnected. B. Complete obstruction of the tracheostomy tube. C. Development of a left-sided pneumothorax. D. Partial obstruction of the tracheostomy tube. - ANSWER-D. Partial obstruction of the tracheostomy tube. A 75 year-old patient with end-stage COPD is admitted to the ED with an acute exacerbation. He has a DNI order in his chart. Physical exam reveals that the patient is febrile and has a weak, non-productive cough. Breath sounds reveal bilateral coarse crackles with scattered wheezes. The patient is started on bronchodilator therapy and antibiotics.