A 60-year-old male has just been extubated following coronary artery bypass grafting. His chest X-ray demonstrates platelike infiltrates with scattered densities, and he is noted to have decreased chest expansion with an increased respiratory rate. Which of the following treatments should be recommended for this patient?  

The most serious complication associated with airway suctioning is:

The respiratory therapist performs the quality control procedures for the blood gas analyzer in the NICU and notices a single data point that is 3 standard deviations from the mean value for the pH electrode. The respiratory therapist should: 

Which of the following physiologic values would be present in a patient who has proper fluid balance?

A 42-year-old trauma patient in the ED has been intubated with a 6.5 mm oral endotracheal tube equipped with a high-residual-volume, low-pressure cuff. The respiratory therapist notes that a cuff pressure of 42 cm H2O is necessary to achieve a minimal occluding volume. This would indicate that the: 

A 44-year-old patient who suffered a cerebral vascular accident has been moved from the Neuro-ICU to the step-down unit. He becomes diaphoretic and his SpO2 suddenly drops from 95% to 88% on a 32% tracheostomy collar. His heart rate is 115/min, RR is 42/min, and his breath sounds are very diminished. The respiratory therapist is unsuccessful in attempting to pass a 12 Fr suction catheter. The respiratory therapist should:

An adult patient with asthma is receiving a mixture of 70% helium and 30% oxygen through a non-rebreathing mask with an oxygen flowmeter set at 10 L/min. What is the actual flow being delivered to the mask?

Evaluation of a spontaneously breathing patient reveals tachypnea, tracheal deviation to the right and an absence of breath sounds on the left. The most likely etiology would be: 

A 68-year-old patient with advanced emphysema is receiving oxygen by nasal cannula at 1 L/min. The physician has ordered that the patient’s SpO2 be maintained at 90%. ABG on 1 L/min is: pH 7.34, PaCO2 65, PaO2 55, HCO3- 35. What should the respiratory therapist recommend FIRST?

A patient admitted to the ED is noted to have pulse and blood pressure variations with respirations. This is most indicative of: