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:

Complications of direct arterial monitoring with an a-line include all the following except:I. infectionII. ischemiaIII. pneumothoraxIV. hemorrhageV. hypotension

A PCWP 18 mmHg and a CI 5.3 L/min/m2 is consistent with which of the following conditions?

Which of the following are appropriate orders before an elective fiberoptic bronchoscopy procedure scheduled for the next morning?I. patient should be NPO after midnightII. administration of IM medicationIII. anesthesize the airway with an aerosolized anesthetic

In setting up a commercial chest drainage system, the wall vacuum source pressure should be increased until:

If, when the pulmonary artery catheter is inserted and after inflation of the balloon, there is a rapid increase in the height of the pressure waveforms with the downstroke dropping near zero, the respiratory therapist should:

BONUS: Which of the following is the cause of the following readings?CVP: 1 mmHgPVR: 300 dynes.sec.cm-5POWP: 8 mmHgC.I.: 7 L/min

You are an RT assigned to the step-down cardiac unit, the nurse in charge calls you and infroms you that there is an outpatient external cardioversion scheduled in 30 minutes and that the patient is in the room to treat her unstable atrial fibrillation. You go to the room to assist in the preparation of the patient. Upon arriving to the room you note that the nurse has just gained IV access, which of the following should also be available before the arrival of the physician and the procedure? SELECT AS MANY AS DEEMED APPROPRIATE.

Which of the following are contraindicated in cardiopulmonary stress testing?I. an unstable asthmatic patientII. a patient who has a baseline B/P of 210/100III. a patient who has a FEV1% of 67% exhibits on their PFTsIV. suffers from mild arthritis in her kneesV. has the following baseline blood gas: pH 7.45, PaCO2 50 mmHg, PaO2 45 mmHg

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