TMC Questions and Correct Answers
A nasopharyngeal airway is indicated for which of the following patients?
A. unconscious patient with a closed head injury
B. conscious patient with an ineffective cough
C. alert patient who is expectorating a large amount of secretions
D. uncooperative patient
✓ ~~~ *B. conscious patient with an ineffective cough*
A 43-week gestational age infant has just been delivered and is stained with
meconium. The physician has asked that the baby be intubated and suctioned
immediately. The respiratory therapist should recommend intubating the baby with
which of the following size endotracheal tubes?
A. 2.0 mm
B. 2.5 mm
C. 3.0 mm
D. 4.0 mm
✓ ~~~ *C. 3.0 mm*
An 8-month-old infant admitted to the pediatric unit is playing with marbles. The
infant suddenly develops violent coughing and is unable to cry. The respiratory
therapist administered series of back blows and chest thrusts, and the infant is now
unresponsive. The therapist should
A. continue back blow and chest thrusts.
B. initiate CPR.
C. perform a blind finger sweep.
D. prepare to intubate.
✓ ~~~ *B. initiate CPR*
Which of the following is the most appropriate technique for insertion of a
nasopharyngeal airway?
A. insert the airway in the opposite direction of its shape and rotate 180 degrees
B. insert the airway in the opposite direction of its shape and rotate 90 degrees
,C. insert the airway in the same direction of its shape into the airway and do not
rotate
D. insert the airway in the same direction of its shape and rotate 180 degrees
✓ ~~~ *C. insert the airway in the same direction of its shape and into the airway and
do not rotate.*
Which of the following describes the proper technique when using a stylet?
A. The distal end should be recessed at least 1 cm from the tip of the endotracheal
tube
B. The distal end should be positioned at the level of the beveled end
C. The distal end should be proximal to the "Murphy's Eye"
D. The distal end should be positioned proximal to the cuff
✓ ~~~ *A. The distal end should be recessed at least 1 cm from the tip of the
endotracheal tube*
When using a flow-inflating resuscitation bag during manual ventilation of a neonate,
the FO2 received by the neonate is determined by
A. the FO2 of the gas delivered to the bag.
B. the size of the oxygen reservoir.
C. the oxygen flow rate.
D. how much the bag is compressed.
✓ ~~~ *A. The F02 of the gas delivered to the bag.*
patient being mechanically ventilated requires endotracheal suctioning. The patient
is on high levels of PEEP therapy and has periods of hypotension. The respiratory
therapist hyperoxygenates the patient before beginning the procedure. As the
therapist disconnects the patient from the ventilator circuit, the following pattern is
seen on the ECG monitor:
Which of the following could be the cause of this patient's ECG pattern?
A. loss of PEEP
B. inadequate hyperoxygenation time
C. vagus nerve stimulation
D. normal response to suctioning
✓ ~~~ *A. loss of PEEP*
,A patient is diagnosed with a necrotizing pulmonary fistula in the right lung. The
physician has requested that the right lung be ventilated at a pressure 10 cmH2O
lower than the left lung. The respiratory therapist should recommend providing this
type of ventilation via a:
A. Transtracheal catheter device
B. Double-lumen endobronchial tube
C. Cricothyroidotomy
D. 14 gauge endotracheal catheter
✓ ~~~ *B. Double-lumen endobronchial tube*
A patient has been intubated in order to receive volume control ventilation. To inflate
the endotracheal tube cuff, the respiratory therapist should add air to the cuff
A. until no leak is heard during inspiration.
B. and then remove it until a slight leak is heard at peak inspiration.
C. to establish a pressure of 20 mmHg.
D. to establish a pressure of 40 cmH20.
✓ ~~~ *C. to establish a pressure of 20 mmHg*
A 16-year-old male patient involved in a motorcycle accident presents to the ER with
massive maxillary and nasal trauma. Which of the following devices would be most
appropriate for maintaining the patient's airway?
A. nasal endotracheal tube
B. fenestrated tracheostomy tube
C. oral pharyngeal airway
D. oral endotracheal tube
✓ ~~~ *B. fenestrated tracheostomy tube*
Shortly after extubating a patient, the therapist notes an increase in the patient's
work of breathing, intercostal retractions, marked stridor and a decreased Sp02. The
therapist should recommend:
A. Cool aerosol therapy with 50% oxygen
B. Assisted ventilation with resuscitation bag and mask
C. CPAP therapy with 40% oxygen
, D. Reintubate orally
✓ ~~~ *D. Reintubate orally*
A 48-year-old postoperative patient in the recovery room is still unconscious. Vital
signs are all stable and the SpO2 is 95%. Which of the following should the therapist
recommend to prevent a soft tissue obstruction from occurring?
A. Oropharyngeal airway
B. Nasopharyngeal airway
C. Laryngeal mask airway
D. Esophageal obturator airway
✓ ~~~ *A. Oropharyngeal airway*
Which of the following factors would increase the difficulty of performing oral
endotracheal intubation?
1. Small mouth opening
2. Macroglossia
3. Atrophy of thyroid
4. Mallampati Class II
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 3 and 4 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 2 and 4 only
✓ ~~~ *A. 1 and 2 only*
A 57-year-old post-op patient is receiving volume control ventilation. The respiratory
therapist is having difficulty removing secretions when suctioning. The patient weighs
85 kg (187 Ib), is orally intubated with a size 9.0 mm ID endotracheal tube, the
vacuum level is set at 90 mm Hg and the suction catheter being used is a size 14 Fr.
The therapist should
A. switch to a larger catheter size.
B. increase the vacuum level.
C. switch to a Coude catheter.
D. instill normal saline prior to suctioning.
✓ ~~~ *B. Increase the vacuum level*
A nasopharyngeal airway is indicated for which of the following patients?
A. unconscious patient with a closed head injury
B. conscious patient with an ineffective cough
C. alert patient who is expectorating a large amount of secretions
D. uncooperative patient
✓ ~~~ *B. conscious patient with an ineffective cough*
A 43-week gestational age infant has just been delivered and is stained with
meconium. The physician has asked that the baby be intubated and suctioned
immediately. The respiratory therapist should recommend intubating the baby with
which of the following size endotracheal tubes?
A. 2.0 mm
B. 2.5 mm
C. 3.0 mm
D. 4.0 mm
✓ ~~~ *C. 3.0 mm*
An 8-month-old infant admitted to the pediatric unit is playing with marbles. The
infant suddenly develops violent coughing and is unable to cry. The respiratory
therapist administered series of back blows and chest thrusts, and the infant is now
unresponsive. The therapist should
A. continue back blow and chest thrusts.
B. initiate CPR.
C. perform a blind finger sweep.
D. prepare to intubate.
✓ ~~~ *B. initiate CPR*
Which of the following is the most appropriate technique for insertion of a
nasopharyngeal airway?
A. insert the airway in the opposite direction of its shape and rotate 180 degrees
B. insert the airway in the opposite direction of its shape and rotate 90 degrees
,C. insert the airway in the same direction of its shape into the airway and do not
rotate
D. insert the airway in the same direction of its shape and rotate 180 degrees
✓ ~~~ *C. insert the airway in the same direction of its shape and into the airway and
do not rotate.*
Which of the following describes the proper technique when using a stylet?
A. The distal end should be recessed at least 1 cm from the tip of the endotracheal
tube
B. The distal end should be positioned at the level of the beveled end
C. The distal end should be proximal to the "Murphy's Eye"
D. The distal end should be positioned proximal to the cuff
✓ ~~~ *A. The distal end should be recessed at least 1 cm from the tip of the
endotracheal tube*
When using a flow-inflating resuscitation bag during manual ventilation of a neonate,
the FO2 received by the neonate is determined by
A. the FO2 of the gas delivered to the bag.
B. the size of the oxygen reservoir.
C. the oxygen flow rate.
D. how much the bag is compressed.
✓ ~~~ *A. The F02 of the gas delivered to the bag.*
patient being mechanically ventilated requires endotracheal suctioning. The patient
is on high levels of PEEP therapy and has periods of hypotension. The respiratory
therapist hyperoxygenates the patient before beginning the procedure. As the
therapist disconnects the patient from the ventilator circuit, the following pattern is
seen on the ECG monitor:
Which of the following could be the cause of this patient's ECG pattern?
A. loss of PEEP
B. inadequate hyperoxygenation time
C. vagus nerve stimulation
D. normal response to suctioning
✓ ~~~ *A. loss of PEEP*
,A patient is diagnosed with a necrotizing pulmonary fistula in the right lung. The
physician has requested that the right lung be ventilated at a pressure 10 cmH2O
lower than the left lung. The respiratory therapist should recommend providing this
type of ventilation via a:
A. Transtracheal catheter device
B. Double-lumen endobronchial tube
C. Cricothyroidotomy
D. 14 gauge endotracheal catheter
✓ ~~~ *B. Double-lumen endobronchial tube*
A patient has been intubated in order to receive volume control ventilation. To inflate
the endotracheal tube cuff, the respiratory therapist should add air to the cuff
A. until no leak is heard during inspiration.
B. and then remove it until a slight leak is heard at peak inspiration.
C. to establish a pressure of 20 mmHg.
D. to establish a pressure of 40 cmH20.
✓ ~~~ *C. to establish a pressure of 20 mmHg*
A 16-year-old male patient involved in a motorcycle accident presents to the ER with
massive maxillary and nasal trauma. Which of the following devices would be most
appropriate for maintaining the patient's airway?
A. nasal endotracheal tube
B. fenestrated tracheostomy tube
C. oral pharyngeal airway
D. oral endotracheal tube
✓ ~~~ *B. fenestrated tracheostomy tube*
Shortly after extubating a patient, the therapist notes an increase in the patient's
work of breathing, intercostal retractions, marked stridor and a decreased Sp02. The
therapist should recommend:
A. Cool aerosol therapy with 50% oxygen
B. Assisted ventilation with resuscitation bag and mask
C. CPAP therapy with 40% oxygen
, D. Reintubate orally
✓ ~~~ *D. Reintubate orally*
A 48-year-old postoperative patient in the recovery room is still unconscious. Vital
signs are all stable and the SpO2 is 95%. Which of the following should the therapist
recommend to prevent a soft tissue obstruction from occurring?
A. Oropharyngeal airway
B. Nasopharyngeal airway
C. Laryngeal mask airway
D. Esophageal obturator airway
✓ ~~~ *A. Oropharyngeal airway*
Which of the following factors would increase the difficulty of performing oral
endotracheal intubation?
1. Small mouth opening
2. Macroglossia
3. Atrophy of thyroid
4. Mallampati Class II
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 3 and 4 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 2 and 4 only
✓ ~~~ *A. 1 and 2 only*
A 57-year-old post-op patient is receiving volume control ventilation. The respiratory
therapist is having difficulty removing secretions when suctioning. The patient weighs
85 kg (187 Ib), is orally intubated with a size 9.0 mm ID endotracheal tube, the
vacuum level is set at 90 mm Hg and the suction catheter being used is a size 14 Fr.
The therapist should
A. switch to a larger catheter size.
B. increase the vacuum level.
C. switch to a Coude catheter.
D. instill normal saline prior to suctioning.
✓ ~~~ *B. Increase the vacuum level*
