Moderate stridor with retractions is noted immediately after extubation of a patient.  A respiratory therapist should recommend

A respiratory therapist is assisting a physician perform a tracheotomy on a patient who is receiving PC ventilation.  The therapist observes increased heart rate, decreased exhaled tidal volume, and distant breath sounds over the right chest.  This information is most indicative of a

A patient presents with a 3-month history of episodic shortness of breath with exercise.  A chest radiograph, ECG, and echocardiogram are normal. The following spirometry results are obtained:       Pre-bronchodilator     Post-bronchodilatorFEV1                    2.9 L               3.1 LFVC                    3.2 L               3.4 L Which of the following should a respiratory therapist recommend NEXT?

A 21-year-old man arrives in the ED after rescue from a house fire.  Physical examination reveals burns on the upper chest and face, and marked edema of the face and oropharynx.  Analysis results of an arterial blood gas sample obtained while the patient was breathing air are as follows: pH             7.55PCO2          26 torrPO2        105 torrHCO3-          23 mEq/LBE          +2 mEq/L Which of the following should a respiratory therapist recommend?

A patient receiving mechanical ventilation by a portable ventilator is being transported from the emergency department to radiology.  Which of the following is required during transport?

A 26-year-old patient who weighs 80 kg (176 lb) was injured in a motor vehicle crash.  The patient was intubated with a 6.0-mm ID endotracheal tube by EMS.  Upon admission to the ED, VC, A/C ventilation is started.  The patient has peak airway pressures of 40 cm H2O, increased work of breathing, and is dyssynchronous with the ventilator.  A respiratory therapist should recommend

A 39-year-old patient who is morbidly obese is admitted to the ED with fever, productive cough, and shortness of breath.  The patient’s vital signs are stable and he is awake and alert.  After initiation of bronchodilator therapy and antibiotics, results for serial blood gas analyses reveal:                           10 AM         11 AMFIO2                    0.21         0.50pH                       7.28         7.22PaCO2                72 torr      85 torrPaO2                  45 torr      56 torrHCO3-                34 mEq/L 35 mEq/LBE                       +5 mEq/L   +4 mEq/LSaO2 (calc)            80%         89% The patient’s clinical condition remains unchanged.  Which of the following should a respiratory therapist do NEXT?

A 34-year-old patient with bronchiectasis with significant amount of daily secretions wishes to continue an appropriate pulmonary hygiene program while maintaining full-time employment.  Which of the following will best assist this patient in attaining this goal?

While administering an IPV treatment at 20 cm H2O to a patient with cystic fibrosis, a respiratory therapist notes the patient has suddenly become very short of breath and cyanotic.  The therapist’s most appropriate action is to

A 21-year-old man arrives in the ED after rescue from a house fire.  Physical examination reveals burns on the upper chest and face, and marked edema of the face and oropharynx.  Analysis results of an arterial blood gas sample obtained while the patient was breathing air are as follows:pH              7.55PCO2           26 torrPO2            105 torrHCO3-          23 mEq/LBE                 +2 mEq/LWhich of the following should a respiratory therapist recommend?