1|Page
APEX OBSTETRICS EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2025
what causes vascular engorgement and hyperemia in
the parturient? - .....ANSWER... ✔✔ increased
progesterone, estrogen, and relaxin
what happens to mallampati in pregnancy? -
.....ANSWER... ✔✔ increases
how much higher is difficult and failed intubation in full-
term patients? - .....ANSWER... ✔✔ 8x higher
why should we use a downsized (6.0-7.0) ETT in
parturients? - .....ANSWER... ✔✔ glottic opening is
narrowed
What is a Datta handle? when is it helpful -
.....ANSWER... ✔✔ - a short-handled laryngoscope
- useful for women with large breasts
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why should artifical airways into the nasopharynx be
avoided? - .....ANSWER... ✔✔ tissue in nasopharynx
is particularly friable
list 3 things that can make airway edema worse in the
parturient - .....ANSWER... ✔✔ - preeclampsia
- tocolytics
- prolonged trendelenberg
what is the role of relaxin in the lung physiology in early
pregnancy? - .....ANSWER... ✔✔ relaxin relaxes
ligaments in the ribcage, allowing the ribs to assume a
more horizontal position... increasing A-P diameter of
the chest, giving the lungs more space
ABG: what happens to arterial pH in pregnancy? -
.....ANSWER... ✔✔ no change
ABG: what happens to PaO2 in pregnancy? -
.....ANSWER... ✔✔ increases: 104-108mmHg d/t
hyperventilation
ABG: what happens to PaCO2 in pregnancy? -
.....ANSWER... ✔✔ decreases: 28-32mmHg
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ABG: what happens to HCO3 in pregnancy? -
.....ANSWER... ✔✔ decreases: 20mmol/L
what happens to the Oxyhgb dissociation curve/ P50? -
.....ANSWER... ✔✔ increases (right shift)
facilitates O2 transfer to fetus
what happens to minute ventilation in pregnancy? -
.....ANSWER... ✔✔ increases 50%
- due to increased O2 consumption and CO2 production
- progesterone is a respiratory stimulant
what happens to tidal volume in pregnancy? -
.....ANSWER... ✔✔ increases 40%
what happens to respiratory rate in pregnancy? -
.....ANSWER... ✔✔ increases 10%
what happens to total lung capacity in pregnancy? -
.....ANSWER... ✔✔ decrease 5%
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increase ribcage diameter partially compensated for
increased diaphragm position
what happens to vital capacity in pregnancy? -
.....ANSWER... ✔✔ no change
what happens to FRC in pregnancy? - .....ANSWER...
✔✔ decreases 20%
diaphragm compresses the lungs
what happens to expiratory reserve volume in
pregnancy? - .....ANSWER... ✔✔ decreases 20-25%
diaphragm compresses the lungs
what happens to residual volume in pregnancy? -
.....ANSWER... ✔✔ decreases 15-20%
diaphragm compresses the lungs
APEX OBSTETRICS EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2025
what causes vascular engorgement and hyperemia in
the parturient? - .....ANSWER... ✔✔ increased
progesterone, estrogen, and relaxin
what happens to mallampati in pregnancy? -
.....ANSWER... ✔✔ increases
how much higher is difficult and failed intubation in full-
term patients? - .....ANSWER... ✔✔ 8x higher
why should we use a downsized (6.0-7.0) ETT in
parturients? - .....ANSWER... ✔✔ glottic opening is
narrowed
What is a Datta handle? when is it helpful -
.....ANSWER... ✔✔ - a short-handled laryngoscope
- useful for women with large breasts
,2|Page
why should artifical airways into the nasopharynx be
avoided? - .....ANSWER... ✔✔ tissue in nasopharynx
is particularly friable
list 3 things that can make airway edema worse in the
parturient - .....ANSWER... ✔✔ - preeclampsia
- tocolytics
- prolonged trendelenberg
what is the role of relaxin in the lung physiology in early
pregnancy? - .....ANSWER... ✔✔ relaxin relaxes
ligaments in the ribcage, allowing the ribs to assume a
more horizontal position... increasing A-P diameter of
the chest, giving the lungs more space
ABG: what happens to arterial pH in pregnancy? -
.....ANSWER... ✔✔ no change
ABG: what happens to PaO2 in pregnancy? -
.....ANSWER... ✔✔ increases: 104-108mmHg d/t
hyperventilation
ABG: what happens to PaCO2 in pregnancy? -
.....ANSWER... ✔✔ decreases: 28-32mmHg
,3|Page
ABG: what happens to HCO3 in pregnancy? -
.....ANSWER... ✔✔ decreases: 20mmol/L
what happens to the Oxyhgb dissociation curve/ P50? -
.....ANSWER... ✔✔ increases (right shift)
facilitates O2 transfer to fetus
what happens to minute ventilation in pregnancy? -
.....ANSWER... ✔✔ increases 50%
- due to increased O2 consumption and CO2 production
- progesterone is a respiratory stimulant
what happens to tidal volume in pregnancy? -
.....ANSWER... ✔✔ increases 40%
what happens to respiratory rate in pregnancy? -
.....ANSWER... ✔✔ increases 10%
what happens to total lung capacity in pregnancy? -
.....ANSWER... ✔✔ decrease 5%
, 4|Page
increase ribcage diameter partially compensated for
increased diaphragm position
what happens to vital capacity in pregnancy? -
.....ANSWER... ✔✔ no change
what happens to FRC in pregnancy? - .....ANSWER...
✔✔ decreases 20%
diaphragm compresses the lungs
what happens to expiratory reserve volume in
pregnancy? - .....ANSWER... ✔✔ decreases 20-25%
diaphragm compresses the lungs
what happens to residual volume in pregnancy? -
.....ANSWER... ✔✔ decreases 15-20%
diaphragm compresses the lungs
