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?

A patient with COPD is receiving oxygen by a nasal cannula at 1 L/min.  The target SpO2 is 90%.  The following data are obtained:pH             7.35PaCO2       64 torrPaO2          52 torrHCO3-       35 mEq/LBE              +7 mEq/L  HR             100RR               18BP        145/90 mm HgSpO2          85%Which of the following should the respiratory therapist recommend FIRST?

Three months after lung transplantation, a patient develops shortness of breath and requires invasive mechanical ventilation.  A chest radiograph shows diffuse alveolar infiltrates.  Which of the following diagnostic tests should a respiratory therapist recommend?

A 65-year-old patient who is post-CABG was extubated 4 hours ago and complains of increasing shortness of breath.  Breath sounds are decreased over the right lung field. The following data are available:HR         105RR           25BP        155/90 mm HgSpO2          90% on 4-L nasal cannulaWhich of the following studies should a respiratory therapist recommend NEXT?

The following information is obtained from a patient breathing air: . HR 110 RR 22 BP 11/70 mmHg SpO2 86% A respiratory therapist should FIRST

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