An adult patient is intubated after being pulseless for several minutes.  An exhaled CO2 detection device fails to change color despite confirmation of tracheal placement by auscultation and chest rise.  A respiratory therapist should recommend

A patient involved in a motor vehicle crash presents with respiratory distress.  A chest radiograph confirms the presence of multiple fractures to five adjacent ribs on the left side.  Which of the following physical findings should be expected during assessment of the chest?

When reviewing the chart of a newly admitted patient, a respiratory therapist finds the patient has COPD and a 70-pack-year smoking history.  The patient was admitted for dyspnea.  The patient is somnolent and can protect his airway.  Which of the following should the therapist recommend FIRST?

A 30-year-old patient has been receiving mechanical ventilation for 24 hours following admission for a drug overdose.  The patient is alert, oriented, and stable, and has been weaned to PSV of 5 cm H2O and an FIO2 of 0.40.  The following data are collected after 30 minutes:pH                7.45PaCO2            34 torrPaO2          126 torrHCO3-            24 mEq/LBE            +1 mEq/L   VT         485 mLMIP          -38 cm H2ORR           16 Which of the following should a respiratory therapist recommend?

A patient’s C(a-v¯)O2  increased from 4.0 to 6.2 vol% after PEEP was increased.  Which of the following best explains these results?

The following data are obtained for a patient who is receiving VC ventilation with a VT of 600 mL: 10 AM12 PMPeak airway pressure38 cm H2O  45 cm H2OPlateau pressure34 cm H2O34 cm H2O This information indicates

While breathing spontaneously, a 54.5-kg (120-lb) female has a respiratory rate of 30 and a tidal volume of 200 mL.  After a sedative was administered, her respiratory rate decreased to 10 and her tidal volume increased to 600 mL.  Which of the following ventilatory parameters increased?

After SIMV is initiated, the following patient data are obtained:FIO2 0.40 pH7.27Mandatory rate   8 PaCO255 torrTotal rate8 PaO2 94 torrVT550 mL HCO3-  25 mEq/LPEEP8 cm H2O BE-3 mEq/L   SaO2 (calc)97%Which of the following should a respiratory therapist recommend?

Spontaneous breathing trials with a T-piece have been initiated for a 50-year-old patient who has been receiving mechanical ventilation for 4 weeks.  With each trial, the patient becomes agitated, dyspneic, and tachypneic, and must be returned to the ventilator.  Which of the following should the respiratory therapist recommend?

A gas is saturated with 100% relative humidity at 32.2º C (90º F).  As the gas cools to 26.7º C (80º F), the relative humidity will