FCCS (Fundamentals of Critical Care Support) Questions with Correct Answers Graded A+

What is the single most important indicator in critical illness?: tachypnea 2. Beck's Triad: hypotension, JVD, muffled heart sounds - a/w cardiac tamponade 3. What is the thyromental distance?: It is the distance in finger breadths be- tween the anterior prominence of the thyroid cartilage (adam's apple) and the tip of the mandible (chin). It is an estimate of the length of the mandible and the available space anterior to the larynx 4. What does it mean when the thyromental space is < 3 fingerbreadths?: - approx 6 cm - indicates the larynx might be more anterior and therefore difficult to visualize during laryngoscopy ** a more acute angulation of the stylet at the distal end of the endotracheal tube may be helpful. 5. Patient is apneic w/ a pulse. What do you do?: Bag them. - One handed bag compressions should be delivered 10-20 times per min. Each compression should take place over 1 second. ** If patient starts spontaneously breathing, try to be synchronous with their respiratory efforts. ** If/once the patient is breathing easily and adequate Vt are being inhaled, enough to produce minute ventilation, stop bagging.