You are the respiratory therapist working the night shift in a 250 bed community hospital. The physician asks you to assist in the evaluation of a patient who was admitted to the ED with chest trauma. Upon entering the trauma room the MD has ordered pain meds to be given to the patient. Providing adequate analgesia to the patient may make paradoxical chest wall movement more obvious.

What initial inspiratory time range would you suggest for a preterm newborn infant being placed on mechanical ventilation?

The therapist is conducting a ventilator check for a neonate and makes the following notations on the ventilator flow sheet:•PEEP: 5 cm H2O•Peak inspiratory pressure (PIP): 16 cm H2O•Mandatory rate: 12 breaths/minute•FiO2: 0.30On the basis of these observations, what should the therapist recommend for this neonate?

Taking advantage that neonates are obligate nose breathers, CPAP should be applied with:

BONUS: A patient has had the chest tube clamped for one hour in preparation for removal. The patient is now exhibiting dyspnea, increased respiratory rate, accessory muscle use and is diaphoretic. The most appropriate action to take at this time would be to:

A patient’s P(A-a)O2 is calculated to be 132 mmHg, what is the most likely cause?

What does the term “trigger” mean?

For the patient in the preceding question with the crushing chest injury, which of the following clinical indicators would suggest the presence of a flail chest?

When attempting to determine the source of a leak in a chest tube drainage system, what is the step-by-step approach in order of succession?

An oxygen (O2) tank has a new volume of 37.0 L at a pressure of 225. mmHg and at a temperature of 55.0