Air Methods Flight Physiology Critical Care Review Exam 2025

During the morning shift brief, the pilot stated that the current combined crew weight and increased density altitutde due to hight temperatures, the maximum patient weight from the helipad is only 150 pounds. This is understood to be consistent with what law? Charles' Dalton's Boyle's Graham's - -Charles' Law Charles' Law explains that as air temperature increases, the air mass increases in volume because the molecules are spaced farter apart, creating an environment where wings, rotors, and propellers have less molecules to work with, making them less efficient. Dalton's law explains gas mixtures. Boyle's Law explains atmospheric pressure. Graham's law explains effect or molecular weight diffusion and effusion Yoou are transporting a patient diagnosed with ischemic bowel with trapped peritoneal gas. Upon reaching cruise altitude, the patient starts experiencing excruciating abdominal pain due to gas expansion. This phenomenon can be best explained by what law? - -Boyle's Law Boyle's law explains the effect of changing atmospheric pressure on gas within a flexible container. Charles' law explains the relationship between volume and absolute temperature at constant pressure. Henry's Law explains the relationship between gas dissolving into liquids and the pressure above the liquid. Graham's law explains effect of molecular weight diffusion and effusion An oxygen tank that was stored outside in very cold weather has been moved indoors to a much warmer ambient temperature. One could expect to see: Decrease in indicated pressure Increase in indicated pressure Frozen tank valve The tank removed from service - -Increase in indicated pressure Gay-Lussac's Law explains the effect of absolute temperature changes on gas in a fixed container with pressure increasing with rising temperature, and decreasing with falling temperature. In this case, one could expect to see an increase in pressure. This would AIR AIR not cause freezing of the tank valve, nor would this be something that would require removing the tank from service. You are transporting an intubated patient from a small mountain-side hospital to a larger valley-area hospital. After descending into the valley, you notice decreased exhaled tidal volumes and decreased peak pressures. Given your understanding of Boyle's Law, you understand that the: ETT cuff volume has increased ETT cuff volume has decreased] ETT has migrated into the right mainstem ETT has become obstruction - -ETT cuff has decreased Fick's law explains how increasing positive pressure can thin the alveolar membrane, promoting diffusion of oxygen across the membrance. Decreasing PEEP would potentially cause a decrease in SpO2. Boyle's Law explains the effects of atmospheric pressure on gas in a flexible container. The formula (FiO2 x P1)/P2 is used to calculate FiO2 adjustments when changing altitudes. This is a demonstration of which gas law? Boyle's Charles' Dalton's Henry's - -Dalton's Law Dalton's Law states that the total pressure exerted is equal to the sum of the partial pressure of the individual gasses. Boyl'es law explains atmospheric pressure. Charles' Law explains the relationship between volume and absolute temperature at a constant pressure. Henry's Law explains gas dissolving into a liquid under pressure You have responded to the scene of a house fire and have assumed care of a 43 year old female patient. She presents with some SOB, HA, N, with clear breath sounds bilaterally with no visible signs of inhalation injuries. Her BP is 142/72, HR 126, SpO2 100% on RA. Given your understranding of house fires, she may be experiencing the _____________ ____________ of _______________. ________________. Disturbance stage; hypoxic hypoxia Disturbance stage; Hypemic hypoxia compensated stage; hypoxic hypoxia Compensated stage; Hypemic Hypoxia - -Compensated stage; Hypemix hypoxia Combusion produces carbon monoxide, which when inhaled, will occupy hemoglobin and block O2 from the hemoglobin, resulting in hypemic hypoxia. Since there is an increased HR and RR, the patient is in the compensated stage of hypoxia. Hypoxic AIR AIR hypoxia is the result of decreased O2 availability. The disturbance stage of hypoxia presents with symptoms of intoxication and loss of cognitive abilities and fine motor skills You are transporting a patient from the scene who is experiencing chest pain, SOB, and severe leg cramps. The patient reports a hx of Sickle Cell anemia. You understand that this condition causes: Histotoxic hypoxia Hypoxic hypoxia Hypemic hypoxia Stagnant Hypoxia - -Hypemic Hypoxia hypemic hypoxia can be caused by a decreased number of RBCs, damaged, or deformed blood cells (such as with sickle cell anemia), or decreased O2-carrying capacity due to RBC being saturated with another gas like carbon monoxide. Histotoxic hypoxia is the result of all except: Cyanide poisoning Prolonged nitroprusside use Oxygen displacement from toxic gas ETOH - -Oxygen displacement from toxic gas Cyanide poisoning, alcohol intoxication, and prolonged nitroprusside infusions that convert cyanide block oxygen at tissue level. Oxygen displacement from toxic gas results in decreased O2 availability in the environment, which results in hypoxic hypoxia, not histotoxic hypoxia Hypoxic hypoxia is the result of: Decreased O2 availability Overuse of O2 Low hbg counts damaged hbg - -Decreased O2 availability Hypoxic hypoxia is the result of decreased oxygen availability due to a decr4ease in environmental oxygen or barriers at the pulmonary level. Low hbg results in hypemic hypoxia. Overuse of oxygen has no affect on availability. Damaged hemoglobin results in hypemic hypoxia You are at the bedside of a 67 yo male patient that is in post-cardiac arrest. Current VS are BP 67/44, HR 146, SpO2 87% with a poor signal on the monitor screen. The patient is being mechanically ventilated with an FiO2 of 1.0 Given this clinical presentation, you understand that this patient is likely suffering from what type of hypoxia? - -Stagnant hypoxia AIR AIR Stagnant hypoxia can be the result of cardiogenic shock that results in decreased cardiac output and slowed blood circulation. Hypoxic hypoxia is related to decreased oxygen availability. Hypemic hypoxia is related to decreased blood volumel. Histotoxic hypoxia is related to barriers to oxygen delivery at the tissue level For every 1000-foot increase in altitude, temperature typically decreases by how many degrees? - -2 degrees celsius You are transporting a patient in a non-pressurized aircraft at 9,000 feet MSL. After 40 minutes of flight, you notice your partner, a smoker, having difficulty staying upright and appears intoxicated. Given your understanding of smokers' baseline physiology, you recognize that your parter is in the ____________ stage of ___________. Disturbance;hypoxia Uncompensated; hypoxia Critical; hypoxia Uncompensated; Hypemia - -Disturbance; hypoxia Night vision starts to decrease at how many feet? - -5,000 feet During patient transports, most pressure-related changes will occur: - -Below 5,000 feet Between 0 - 5000 feet This technique is used to mitigate decreased night vision at altitude - -Off-center viewing You have returned to work after a recent dental filling placement. At altitude during a patient transport, you begin experiencing extreme tooth pain. You are experiencing ________________ and should ________________ as soon as possible. - Barodentalgia; descend You are transporting an obese, injured hiker who was rescued after being stranded for 2 days at 12,000 feet elevation. What is a likely course of treatment for this patient? Non-rebreather at 15 LPM Oral ASA Warmed fluids External warming with heating blankets - -Non-rebreather at 15LPM You are transporting an intubated patient who is receiving 100% O2. The patient's SpO2 is 87% You understand that you need to _________ ___________, and this is a principle of _____________ law. Decrease PEEP, Fick's Increase PEEP, Fick's AIR AIR Increase PEEP, Boyle's Decrease PEEP, Boyle's - -Increase PEEP, Fick's law Anemia and carbon monoxide poisining will cause what type of hypoxia? - -Hypemic hypoxia You are transporting a patient in a fixed-wing, pressurized aircraft when you notice fog developing in the cabin along with a noticeable temperature drop.l What is your immediate course of action? - -Apply Oxygen to yourself A patient has been receiving IV Nitroprusside for several days. This medication can cause buildup of _____________ and cause what type of hypoxia after prolonged use? - -Cyanide, histotoxic hypoxia Stagnant hypoxia occurs with: Increased blood flow Third-spacing decreased blood flow decreased oxygen availability - -Decreased blood flow You are transporting an injured SCUBA diver by air. During transport, the diver begins complaining of pain in his right elbow and both knees. You recognize that this is likely the ____________, which is a form of _______________ Folds; barotrauma Crooks; barotrauma Twists; barotrauma Bends; barotrauma - -Bends; barotrauma You have experienced an explosive decompression at altitude. While donning your oxygen, you noticed that your partner is nearly unconscious and u