The most common cause of a transudative pleural effusion in clinical practice is:

A patient is brought in from a local construction site by ambulance after falling off scaffolding onto concrete steps. At the scene the man was complaining of severe chest pain and stated “I can’t get my breath.” When he arrives at the emergency department he only responds to painful stimulation, is breathing shallowly 16 bpm and has a SpO2 reading of 82% on a 100% NRB mask. On visual examination you note profound paradoxical movement of his left anterior chest wall. The physician orders STAT ABGs. Which of the following results would you expect with this patient?

Penetrating chest trauma often results in a communicating pneumothorax between the pleural space and the atmosphere once the object is removed. The initial treatment of a communicating pneumothorax in the ED (or before) is:

In the previous question, which of the following conditions is best described?

A 19 year old man is brought to the ED after experiencing sharp chest pain while playing basketball. Upon observation of the young man, reveals a tall, thin man in severe distress. Despite being placed on a 10 L/min SM, the patient shows peripheral and central cyanosis. Percussion of the right side yields a dull percussion note and on the left it is noted to have a hyperresonant note. Additionally, a distinct shift in the trachea toward the right side is noted. Cardiac leads are attached and the ECG monitor shows sinus tachycardia with frequent multifocal PVCs. The B/P can only be palpated at 50 mmHg systolic, diaphoresis and cyanosis. Which of the following should the RT recommend?

What does the dicrotic notch represent on an PA catheter pressure waveform?

A patient has been scheduled for a outpatient cardioversion for atrial fibrillation and the physician has asked you to set the cardioverter to a proper initial shock strength. Which of the following would be recommended?

What therapy is indicated for the construction worker above?

Which of the following statements regarding the amount of suction applied to the pleural space from the pleural drainage system are true? I. the amount of negative pressure is controlled by the amount of suction from the wall vacuumII. the amount of negative pressure is usually -20 cmH2OIII. negative pressure is controlled by the depth of the water in the suction chamber in chest  tube bottle systemIV. aggressive bubbling in the water seal chamber indicates suction pressure is set at the required level for evacuation to occur

A respiratory therapist has assisted in a thoracentesis with the removal of 1 L of pleural fluid that is cloudy in a patient who has a history lung cancer and frequent bacterial pneumonias. Laboratory results indicate the pH is 7.09 and a protein level count of 4.2 g/dL. This is best described as a(an) ____________________.