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FISDAP Airway and Breathing Questions
and Correct Answers/ Latest Update /
Already Graded
A 56-year-old man has labored, shallow breathing at a rate of 28
breaths/min. He is responsive to pain only. You should:
A) suction his oropharynx and insert an oropharyngeal airway.
B) ventilate him with a bag-valve-mask device at a rate of 30
breaths/min.
C) place him on his side and administer oxygen via nonrebreathing
mask.
D) insert a nasopharyngeal airway and begin assisting his ventilations.
Ans: D) insert a nasopharyngeal airway and begin assisting his
ventilations.
This patient in this scenario is not breathing adequately. He is
responsive to pain only, and his respirations are rapid, labored,
and shallow. You should insert a
nasopharyngeal airway, which is better tolerated in patients
who are semiconscious and have a gag reflex, and assist his
ventilations with a bag-valve-mask
device. When assisting a patient's breathing, you should
squeeze the bag-valve-mask device to ensure that he or she
receives 10 to 12 adequate breaths per
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minute. Do not hyperventilate the patient, as this increases the
risks of vomiting and aspiration. Hyperventilation also increases
intra thoracic pressure,
which may impair venous return to the heart (preload} and
cause a decrease in cardiac output. Oxygen via nonrebreathing
mask is appropriate for patients
who are breathing adequately, but are suspected of being
hypoxic. The recovery position (patient is placed on his or her
side) is appropriate for unresponsive,
uninjured patients with adequate breathing.
A patient overdosed on several drugs and is unresponsive with shallow
breathing and facial cyanosis. As you continue your assessment, the
patient suddenly vomits. You should:
A) suction his oropharynx at once.
B) turn the patient onto his side.
C) insert an oropharyngeal airway.
D) begin assisting his ventilations.
Ans: B) turn the patient onto his side.
The patient's airway must be clear of foreign bodies or
secretions before it can be assessed or managed. If the patient
begins to vomit, he must first be rolled
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onto his side to allow for drainage of the vomitus. Use suction
to remove secretions after you have positioned him on his side.
After the airway is clear, you
should insert an appropriate airway adjunct (oral or nasal
airway) and ensure adequate ventilation and oxygenation. In
this patient, this involves assisting his
ventilations with a bag-valve-mask device.
The method by which you administer supplemental oxygen to a
hypoxemic patient depends MOSTLY on the:
A) presence or absence of cyanosis.
B) patient's level of consciousness and heart rate.
C) suspected underlying cause of the hypoxemia.
D) severity of hypoxemia and adequacy of breathing.
Ans: D) severity of hypoxemia and adequacy of breathing.
All hypoxemic patients, whatever the cause of their condition,
should be treated with supplemental oxygen. The method of
oxygen delivery depends on the
severity of the hypoxemia and the adequacy of the patient's
breathing. For example, a hypoxemic patient who is breathing
adequately (eg, normal rate,
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adequate tidal volume) should receive oxygen via nasal cannula
or nonrebreathing mask, depending on the severity of the
hypoxemia. However, if the patient
is breathing inadequately (eg, fast or slow rate, shallow
breathing [reduced tidal volume]), he or she may require
ventilation assistance with a bag-valve-mask
device. The absence of cyanosis does not rule out hypoxia;
cyanosis is a later sign and indicates significant hemoglobin
desaturation. A patient's level of
consciousness and heart rate can give you clues as to the
severity of his or her hypoxemia; a decreased level of
consciousness and a rapid, weak pulse rate
are signs of significant hypoxemia.
Assessment of a 40-year-old patient reveals respiratory distress,
tachycardia, audible expiratory wheezing, and an oxygen saturation of
88%.
The EMT should suspect:
A) fluid in the lower airways.
B) diffuse bronchoconstriction.
C) swelling in the laryngeal area.
D) infection of the lower airway.
Ans: B) diffuse bronchoconstriction.
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
FISDAP Airway and Breathing Questions
and Correct Answers/ Latest Update /
Already Graded
A 56-year-old man has labored, shallow breathing at a rate of 28
breaths/min. He is responsive to pain only. You should:
A) suction his oropharynx and insert an oropharyngeal airway.
B) ventilate him with a bag-valve-mask device at a rate of 30
breaths/min.
C) place him on his side and administer oxygen via nonrebreathing
mask.
D) insert a nasopharyngeal airway and begin assisting his ventilations.
Ans: D) insert a nasopharyngeal airway and begin assisting his
ventilations.
This patient in this scenario is not breathing adequately. He is
responsive to pain only, and his respirations are rapid, labored,
and shallow. You should insert a
nasopharyngeal airway, which is better tolerated in patients
who are semiconscious and have a gag reflex, and assist his
ventilations with a bag-valve-mask
device. When assisting a patient's breathing, you should
squeeze the bag-valve-mask device to ensure that he or she
receives 10 to 12 adequate breaths per
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
, Page |2
minute. Do not hyperventilate the patient, as this increases the
risks of vomiting and aspiration. Hyperventilation also increases
intra thoracic pressure,
which may impair venous return to the heart (preload} and
cause a decrease in cardiac output. Oxygen via nonrebreathing
mask is appropriate for patients
who are breathing adequately, but are suspected of being
hypoxic. The recovery position (patient is placed on his or her
side) is appropriate for unresponsive,
uninjured patients with adequate breathing.
A patient overdosed on several drugs and is unresponsive with shallow
breathing and facial cyanosis. As you continue your assessment, the
patient suddenly vomits. You should:
A) suction his oropharynx at once.
B) turn the patient onto his side.
C) insert an oropharyngeal airway.
D) begin assisting his ventilations.
Ans: B) turn the patient onto his side.
The patient's airway must be clear of foreign bodies or
secretions before it can be assessed or managed. If the patient
begins to vomit, he must first be rolled
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
, Page |3
onto his side to allow for drainage of the vomitus. Use suction
to remove secretions after you have positioned him on his side.
After the airway is clear, you
should insert an appropriate airway adjunct (oral or nasal
airway) and ensure adequate ventilation and oxygenation. In
this patient, this involves assisting his
ventilations with a bag-valve-mask device.
The method by which you administer supplemental oxygen to a
hypoxemic patient depends MOSTLY on the:
A) presence or absence of cyanosis.
B) patient's level of consciousness and heart rate.
C) suspected underlying cause of the hypoxemia.
D) severity of hypoxemia and adequacy of breathing.
Ans: D) severity of hypoxemia and adequacy of breathing.
All hypoxemic patients, whatever the cause of their condition,
should be treated with supplemental oxygen. The method of
oxygen delivery depends on the
severity of the hypoxemia and the adequacy of the patient's
breathing. For example, a hypoxemic patient who is breathing
adequately (eg, normal rate,
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
, Page |4
adequate tidal volume) should receive oxygen via nasal cannula
or nonrebreathing mask, depending on the severity of the
hypoxemia. However, if the patient
is breathing inadequately (eg, fast or slow rate, shallow
breathing [reduced tidal volume]), he or she may require
ventilation assistance with a bag-valve-mask
device. The absence of cyanosis does not rule out hypoxia;
cyanosis is a later sign and indicates significant hemoglobin
desaturation. A patient's level of
consciousness and heart rate can give you clues as to the
severity of his or her hypoxemia; a decreased level of
consciousness and a rapid, weak pulse rate
are signs of significant hypoxemia.
Assessment of a 40-year-old patient reveals respiratory distress,
tachycardia, audible expiratory wheezing, and an oxygen saturation of
88%.
The EMT should suspect:
A) fluid in the lower airways.
B) diffuse bronchoconstriction.
C) swelling in the laryngeal area.
D) infection of the lower airway.
Ans: B) diffuse bronchoconstriction.
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
