RRT PRACTICE EXAM SET QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
Calculate the alveolar oxygen tension (PAO2) given the
following values: PB = 750 mmHg, FiO2 - 30%, and PaCO2 - 40.
A. 100 mmHg
B. 130 mmHg
C. 161 mmHg
D. 190 mmHg - ANSWER-C. 161 mmHg
Exhaled volumes are collected from a patient over a 1 minute
interval; during this time it is determined that the average tidal
volume is 714 ml with a total minute ventilation of 10 L. What is
the patient's frequency?
A. 10 breaths per minute
B. 14 breaths per minute
C. 18 breaths per minute
D. 24 breaths per minute - ANSWER-B. 14 breaths per minute
Given the data below, calculate the patient's dead space/tidal
volume ratio:
FiO2 40%
pH 7.38
PaO2 75 torr
PaCO2 49 torr
PeCO2 32 torr
A. 21%
B. 35%
C. 47%
D. 68% - ANSWER-B. 35%
Given the following values for room air: PAO2 - 105 mmHg,
PaO2 - 70 mmHg, what is the P(A-a)O2? Is it normal?
A. 70 mmHg; normal
B. 70 mmHg; abnormal
C. 35 mmHg; normal
D. 35 mmHg; abnormal - ANSWER-D. 35 mmHg; abnormal
Given the following ventilation parameters; corrected tidal
volume of 700 ml, plateau pressure of 30 cmH2O, peak
inspiratory pressure of 50 cmH2O, and 10 cmH2O PEEP,
calculate the patient's static lung compliance.
A. 20 ml/cm H2O
B. 35 ml/cm HO
,C. 15 ml/cm H2O
D. 23 ml/cm H2O - ANSWER-B. 35 ml/cm HO
Given the following measurements: Spontaneous tidal volume
= 247 ml/min, spontaneous respiratory rate = 17/min. What is
the calculated RSBI? Does the RSBI indicate a successful
outcome when weaning?
A. 24 breaths/min/L, yes
B. 24 breaths/min/L, no
C. 69 breaths/min/L, yes
D. 69 breaths/min/l, no - ANSWER-C. 69 breaths/min/L, yes
Heavy smokers commonly have HbCO levels as high as:
A. 10%
B. 20%
C. 30%
D. 40% - ANSWER-A. 10%
If a patient has a minute ventilation of 9.6 L/min and a
ventilator frequency of 10 breaths/min, what is the patient's
tidal volume?
A. 9.6L
B. 96.0 L
C. 96.0 ml
D. 960 ml - ANSWER-D. 960 ml
If a patient weighing 140 lbs has a tidal volume of 400 and a
ventilatory frequency of 14 breaths/minute what is the patient's
minute ventilation?
A. 5.6 L
B. 560 ml
C. 56.0 L
D. 4.0 L - ANSWER-A. 5.6 L
If a patient's PaO2 is 540 mmHg and PAO2 is calculated to be
642 mmHg, what is the alveolar-arterial oxygen tension
difference? The patient is on 100% FiO2.
A. 102 mmHg
B. 540 mmHg
C. 320 mmHg
D. 265 mmHg - ANSWER-A. 102 mmHg
The RRT is asked to evaluate the results of a diagnostic sleep
study. Which of the following guidelines would the RRT use to
determine the existence of sleep apnea?
A. Three or more apneic episodes per hour, each lasting at
, least 6 seconds
B. Five or more apneic episodes per hour, each lasting at
least 10 seconds
C. Five or more apneic episodes per hour, each lasting at least
3 seconds
D. Eight or more apneic episodes per hour, each lasting at
least 8 seconds - ANSWER-B. Five or more apneic episodes per hour, each lasting at
least 10 seconds
Which of the following devices should be used to effectively
deliver a 70% helium/ 30% oxygen mixture to a patient?
A. Simple mask
B. Oxygen hood
C. Nasal cannula
D. Nonrebreathing mask - ANSWER-D. Nonrebreathing mask
The spontaneous minute ventilation and respiratory rate of a
mechanically ventilated patient are 6.2 L/in and 30/min.
Calculate the average spontaneous tidal volume and the RSBI.
Does the calculated RSBI indicate a successful weaning
outcome?
A. Spontaneous Vt = .207 L; RSBI = 90/breaths/min/L; Yes
B. Spontaneous Vt = .207 L; RSBI = 145 breaths/min/L; No
C. Spontaneous Vt = .319 L; RSBI = 90 breaths/min/L; Yes
D. Spontaneous Vt = .319; RSBI = 137 breaths/min/L; No - ANSWER-B. Spontaneous
Vt = .207 L; RSBI = 145 breaths/min/L; No
When a volume-limited ventilator is used, the peak airway
pressure is directly related to the:
A. Patient's airway resistance
B. Patient's lung compliance
C. Respiratory rate
D. FiO2 - ANSWER-A. Patient's airway resistance
When a volume-limited ventilator is used, the plateau (lung)
pressure is directly related to the:
A. Patient's airway resistance
B. Patient's lung compliance
C. Respiratory rate
D. FiO2 - ANSWER-B. Patient's lung compliance
A 150-lb (IBW) patient has a tidal volume of 500 ml and a
ventilatory rate of 12 breath/minute Calculate the patient's
alveolar minute ventilation. Assume the absence of dead-space
disease.
A. 1.8 liters/minute
AND ANSWERS
Calculate the alveolar oxygen tension (PAO2) given the
following values: PB = 750 mmHg, FiO2 - 30%, and PaCO2 - 40.
A. 100 mmHg
B. 130 mmHg
C. 161 mmHg
D. 190 mmHg - ANSWER-C. 161 mmHg
Exhaled volumes are collected from a patient over a 1 minute
interval; during this time it is determined that the average tidal
volume is 714 ml with a total minute ventilation of 10 L. What is
the patient's frequency?
A. 10 breaths per minute
B. 14 breaths per minute
C. 18 breaths per minute
D. 24 breaths per minute - ANSWER-B. 14 breaths per minute
Given the data below, calculate the patient's dead space/tidal
volume ratio:
FiO2 40%
pH 7.38
PaO2 75 torr
PaCO2 49 torr
PeCO2 32 torr
A. 21%
B. 35%
C. 47%
D. 68% - ANSWER-B. 35%
Given the following values for room air: PAO2 - 105 mmHg,
PaO2 - 70 mmHg, what is the P(A-a)O2? Is it normal?
A. 70 mmHg; normal
B. 70 mmHg; abnormal
C. 35 mmHg; normal
D. 35 mmHg; abnormal - ANSWER-D. 35 mmHg; abnormal
Given the following ventilation parameters; corrected tidal
volume of 700 ml, plateau pressure of 30 cmH2O, peak
inspiratory pressure of 50 cmH2O, and 10 cmH2O PEEP,
calculate the patient's static lung compliance.
A. 20 ml/cm H2O
B. 35 ml/cm HO
,C. 15 ml/cm H2O
D. 23 ml/cm H2O - ANSWER-B. 35 ml/cm HO
Given the following measurements: Spontaneous tidal volume
= 247 ml/min, spontaneous respiratory rate = 17/min. What is
the calculated RSBI? Does the RSBI indicate a successful
outcome when weaning?
A. 24 breaths/min/L, yes
B. 24 breaths/min/L, no
C. 69 breaths/min/L, yes
D. 69 breaths/min/l, no - ANSWER-C. 69 breaths/min/L, yes
Heavy smokers commonly have HbCO levels as high as:
A. 10%
B. 20%
C. 30%
D. 40% - ANSWER-A. 10%
If a patient has a minute ventilation of 9.6 L/min and a
ventilator frequency of 10 breaths/min, what is the patient's
tidal volume?
A. 9.6L
B. 96.0 L
C. 96.0 ml
D. 960 ml - ANSWER-D. 960 ml
If a patient weighing 140 lbs has a tidal volume of 400 and a
ventilatory frequency of 14 breaths/minute what is the patient's
minute ventilation?
A. 5.6 L
B. 560 ml
C. 56.0 L
D. 4.0 L - ANSWER-A. 5.6 L
If a patient's PaO2 is 540 mmHg and PAO2 is calculated to be
642 mmHg, what is the alveolar-arterial oxygen tension
difference? The patient is on 100% FiO2.
A. 102 mmHg
B. 540 mmHg
C. 320 mmHg
D. 265 mmHg - ANSWER-A. 102 mmHg
The RRT is asked to evaluate the results of a diagnostic sleep
study. Which of the following guidelines would the RRT use to
determine the existence of sleep apnea?
A. Three or more apneic episodes per hour, each lasting at
, least 6 seconds
B. Five or more apneic episodes per hour, each lasting at
least 10 seconds
C. Five or more apneic episodes per hour, each lasting at least
3 seconds
D. Eight or more apneic episodes per hour, each lasting at
least 8 seconds - ANSWER-B. Five or more apneic episodes per hour, each lasting at
least 10 seconds
Which of the following devices should be used to effectively
deliver a 70% helium/ 30% oxygen mixture to a patient?
A. Simple mask
B. Oxygen hood
C. Nasal cannula
D. Nonrebreathing mask - ANSWER-D. Nonrebreathing mask
The spontaneous minute ventilation and respiratory rate of a
mechanically ventilated patient are 6.2 L/in and 30/min.
Calculate the average spontaneous tidal volume and the RSBI.
Does the calculated RSBI indicate a successful weaning
outcome?
A. Spontaneous Vt = .207 L; RSBI = 90/breaths/min/L; Yes
B. Spontaneous Vt = .207 L; RSBI = 145 breaths/min/L; No
C. Spontaneous Vt = .319 L; RSBI = 90 breaths/min/L; Yes
D. Spontaneous Vt = .319; RSBI = 137 breaths/min/L; No - ANSWER-B. Spontaneous
Vt = .207 L; RSBI = 145 breaths/min/L; No
When a volume-limited ventilator is used, the peak airway
pressure is directly related to the:
A. Patient's airway resistance
B. Patient's lung compliance
C. Respiratory rate
D. FiO2 - ANSWER-A. Patient's airway resistance
When a volume-limited ventilator is used, the plateau (lung)
pressure is directly related to the:
A. Patient's airway resistance
B. Patient's lung compliance
C. Respiratory rate
D. FiO2 - ANSWER-B. Patient's lung compliance
A 150-lb (IBW) patient has a tidal volume of 500 ml and a
ventilatory rate of 12 breath/minute Calculate the patient's
alveolar minute ventilation. Assume the absence of dead-space
disease.
A. 1.8 liters/minute
