PSG Practice exam questions #1 with
complete solutions 2024/2025
Which of the following are common side effects of CPAP? - ANSWER-Nasal
congestion, Dry upper airway
During a CPAP titration, the patient suddenly wakes up, rips the mask off, and
complains of difficulty exhaling and rapid heartbeat. The patient wishes to
discontinue the study and go home. Which of the following should the technician
do? - ANSWER-Decrease the CPAP pressure, Comfort the patient
A patient returns to the sleep lab for a CPAP/BiPAP titration. The ABG shows a
PCO2 of 60 mmHg, PaO2 of 80 mmHg, and a pH of 7.35. The baseline PSG
showed an obstructive event index of 30 events/hr and a central event index of
1.2 events/hr. At 8 cmH2O, obstrctive respiratory events are corrected. However,
at this pressure the patient begins to have central events associated with EEG
arousals. What should the technician do? - ANSWER-Remain at 8 cmH2O until
clear obstructive component emerges. Central events are not uncommon when a
higher pressure is first reached.
The physician orders CPAP to start at 4 cmH2O. The CPAP machine in the lab
only has controls for EPAP and IPAP. How should the technician set up the CPAP
equipment prior to the study? - ANSWER-The IPAP and EPAP controls are set to
4 cmH2O. When the levels are set the same it acts as CPAP.
Which of the following is required for the administration of O2 to a patient? -
ANSWER-Flow meter, physician's order
, A patient with severe asthma is referred to the sleep lab for an overnight PSG.
Which of the following would be particularly important to do when setting up this
patient? - ANSWER-Use paste (EC2 cream) instead of collodion on the scalp. The
fumes can trigger and asthma attack in some patients.
Which of the following is not associated with the transition from stage Wake to
stage 1 sleep? - ANSWER-An increase in alpha activity. Alpha activity decreases
with sleep onset.
An obese 60 year-old man is referred to the sleep lab for a baseline PSG after
breathing pauses were noted. He arrives for his study and states that he now
uses O2 on a PRN basis. The physician's orders are to begin the study with O2 at
12 L/min. What should the technician do? - ANSWER-Call the physician to verify
the order at 12L/min.
A patient has a baseline O2 saturation below the standard limits on the lab's
protocol. The on-call physician orders supplemental O2 starting at 2 L/min via
nasal cannula. As the night progresses, the patient's TCO2 levels increase by 12
mmHg and the respiratory rate decreases to 6 breaths/min. Which of the following
actions should the technician take? - ANSWER-Decrease the O2 flow rate and
contact the physician. This is likely due to O2 induced hypoventilation. Contact
the Dr. Decreasing the O2 may help to restore the patient's respiratory drive.
What should the technician do if the awake baseline O2 saturation is showing
below 90%? - ANSWER-Check the perfusion signal on the pulse oximeter.
Which of the following can decrease ventilation during sleep? - ANSWER-
Reduction of upper airway patency, instability of ventilatory control during REM
sleep. This is true since sleeping relaxes the airway and is very commonly seen
during REM sleep.
What is the standard device used to verify CPAP pressure? - ANSWER-All
pressure monitors are calibrated to water column manometers as this is the only
true measurement of cm H2O. This is particularly true for CPAP.
What is not required for the use of CPAP at home? - ANSWER-Humidification may
increase comfort but is not required.
complete solutions 2024/2025
Which of the following are common side effects of CPAP? - ANSWER-Nasal
congestion, Dry upper airway
During a CPAP titration, the patient suddenly wakes up, rips the mask off, and
complains of difficulty exhaling and rapid heartbeat. The patient wishes to
discontinue the study and go home. Which of the following should the technician
do? - ANSWER-Decrease the CPAP pressure, Comfort the patient
A patient returns to the sleep lab for a CPAP/BiPAP titration. The ABG shows a
PCO2 of 60 mmHg, PaO2 of 80 mmHg, and a pH of 7.35. The baseline PSG
showed an obstructive event index of 30 events/hr and a central event index of
1.2 events/hr. At 8 cmH2O, obstrctive respiratory events are corrected. However,
at this pressure the patient begins to have central events associated with EEG
arousals. What should the technician do? - ANSWER-Remain at 8 cmH2O until
clear obstructive component emerges. Central events are not uncommon when a
higher pressure is first reached.
The physician orders CPAP to start at 4 cmH2O. The CPAP machine in the lab
only has controls for EPAP and IPAP. How should the technician set up the CPAP
equipment prior to the study? - ANSWER-The IPAP and EPAP controls are set to
4 cmH2O. When the levels are set the same it acts as CPAP.
Which of the following is required for the administration of O2 to a patient? -
ANSWER-Flow meter, physician's order
, A patient with severe asthma is referred to the sleep lab for an overnight PSG.
Which of the following would be particularly important to do when setting up this
patient? - ANSWER-Use paste (EC2 cream) instead of collodion on the scalp. The
fumes can trigger and asthma attack in some patients.
Which of the following is not associated with the transition from stage Wake to
stage 1 sleep? - ANSWER-An increase in alpha activity. Alpha activity decreases
with sleep onset.
An obese 60 year-old man is referred to the sleep lab for a baseline PSG after
breathing pauses were noted. He arrives for his study and states that he now
uses O2 on a PRN basis. The physician's orders are to begin the study with O2 at
12 L/min. What should the technician do? - ANSWER-Call the physician to verify
the order at 12L/min.
A patient has a baseline O2 saturation below the standard limits on the lab's
protocol. The on-call physician orders supplemental O2 starting at 2 L/min via
nasal cannula. As the night progresses, the patient's TCO2 levels increase by 12
mmHg and the respiratory rate decreases to 6 breaths/min. Which of the following
actions should the technician take? - ANSWER-Decrease the O2 flow rate and
contact the physician. This is likely due to O2 induced hypoventilation. Contact
the Dr. Decreasing the O2 may help to restore the patient's respiratory drive.
What should the technician do if the awake baseline O2 saturation is showing
below 90%? - ANSWER-Check the perfusion signal on the pulse oximeter.
Which of the following can decrease ventilation during sleep? - ANSWER-
Reduction of upper airway patency, instability of ventilatory control during REM
sleep. This is true since sleeping relaxes the airway and is very commonly seen
during REM sleep.
What is the standard device used to verify CPAP pressure? - ANSWER-All
pressure monitors are calibrated to water column manometers as this is the only
true measurement of cm H2O. This is particularly true for CPAP.
What is not required for the use of CPAP at home? - ANSWER-Humidification may
increase comfort but is not required.
