Fisdap Airway Practice Quiz
A 75 y/o F complains of a sudden onset of right-sided chest pain and dyspnoea. She is
recovering from a recent hip surgery. What should you suspect?
a. hypotension
b. pneumonia
c. pulmonary embolism
d. myocardial infarction - correct answer-c. pulmonary embolism
Typically the result of a clot that has formed in a lower extremity with poor circulation. Hip
surgery requires a pt to be immobilised for an extended period of time which can permit a
clot to form in a distal portion of an extremity. The sudden, unilateral chest pain in the lung
with the clot. Any lung tissue distal of the clot will not allow for adequate O2 exchange.
An 18 y/o M is cyanotic and complains of sharp chest pain and difficulty breathing
(dyspnoea) after lifting weights. Vital signs are BP 110/66, P 88, R22. What is the most likely
cause?
a. acute myocardial infarction
b. tension pneumothorax
c. spontaneous pneumothorax
d. pulmonary embolism - correct answer-c. spontaneous pneumothorax
Performing strenuous activities can, on occasion, cause a collapsed lung (spontaneous
pneumothorax). He has stable vital signs so you should suspect a spontaneous
pneumothorax. If he had been hypotensive (88/40), you should suspect that the spontaneous
pneumothorax had developed into a tension pneumothorax.
A 53 y/o M is sleepy, diaphoretic, difficult to arouse, and breathing 8 times a minute. What
should you suspect?
a. respiratory distress
b. respiratory alkalosis
c. respiratory arrest
d. respiratory failure - correct answer-d. respiratory failure
This rate is too slow and the fact that he is sleepy and difficult to arouse shows that he is in
respiratory failure. An adult with a respiratory rate of 8 is too slow for adequate gas
exchange.
What are the small sacs at the end of the airway that are responsible for gas exchange?
a. bronchioles
b. carina
c. trachea
, d. alveoli - correct answer-d. alveoli
The use of accessory muscles and nasal flaring are signs of what type of breathing?
a. laboured
b. obstructed
c. normal
d. shallow - correct answer-a. laboured
The use of accessory muscles is a sign of respiratory distress or failure. Nasal flaring is the
body's response in effort to increase the size of the airway and attempt to draw in more air
with each breath. Expect to initially see an increased respiratory and heart rate with laboured
breathing. As the pt begins to tire, the respiratory rate and quality will begin to decrease,
which worsens the problem.
An unresponsive 43 y/o M is cool, pale, diaphoretic, and breathing 6 times a minute. Which
device should you use to administer O2.
a. BVM
b. NRM
c. simple face mask
d. NC - correct answer-a. BVM
He is unresponsive and breathing too slow. This is a "sick" pt and assisting his ventilations
should be the first intervention. You can increase his respiratory rate with a BVM, which is
why it is the most correct choice.
An alert 32 y/o F complains of difficulty breathing. She speaks in 2-3 word sentences and
has an O2 saturation of 92%. What should you do?
a. obtain vital signs
b. apply high-flow oxygen
c. assist her with her metred dose inhaler
d. assist ventilations with a BVM - correct answer-b. apply high-flow oxygen
She is alert and her respirations are still effective without the need for assisting ventilations.
She only complains of SOB, so applying high-flow oxygen should be the first treatment.
What is the term for high-pitched whistling sounds heard during expiration?
a. snoring
b. friction rub
c. stridor
d. wheezing - correct answer-d. wheezing
Wheezing suggests there is a lower airway obstruction or constriction. Exhalation is a
passive process, and the wheezing noise is air passively leaving constricted bronchioles.
A 75 y/o F complains of a sudden onset of right-sided chest pain and dyspnoea. She is
recovering from a recent hip surgery. What should you suspect?
a. hypotension
b. pneumonia
c. pulmonary embolism
d. myocardial infarction - correct answer-c. pulmonary embolism
Typically the result of a clot that has formed in a lower extremity with poor circulation. Hip
surgery requires a pt to be immobilised for an extended period of time which can permit a
clot to form in a distal portion of an extremity. The sudden, unilateral chest pain in the lung
with the clot. Any lung tissue distal of the clot will not allow for adequate O2 exchange.
An 18 y/o M is cyanotic and complains of sharp chest pain and difficulty breathing
(dyspnoea) after lifting weights. Vital signs are BP 110/66, P 88, R22. What is the most likely
cause?
a. acute myocardial infarction
b. tension pneumothorax
c. spontaneous pneumothorax
d. pulmonary embolism - correct answer-c. spontaneous pneumothorax
Performing strenuous activities can, on occasion, cause a collapsed lung (spontaneous
pneumothorax). He has stable vital signs so you should suspect a spontaneous
pneumothorax. If he had been hypotensive (88/40), you should suspect that the spontaneous
pneumothorax had developed into a tension pneumothorax.
A 53 y/o M is sleepy, diaphoretic, difficult to arouse, and breathing 8 times a minute. What
should you suspect?
a. respiratory distress
b. respiratory alkalosis
c. respiratory arrest
d. respiratory failure - correct answer-d. respiratory failure
This rate is too slow and the fact that he is sleepy and difficult to arouse shows that he is in
respiratory failure. An adult with a respiratory rate of 8 is too slow for adequate gas
exchange.
What are the small sacs at the end of the airway that are responsible for gas exchange?
a. bronchioles
b. carina
c. trachea
, d. alveoli - correct answer-d. alveoli
The use of accessory muscles and nasal flaring are signs of what type of breathing?
a. laboured
b. obstructed
c. normal
d. shallow - correct answer-a. laboured
The use of accessory muscles is a sign of respiratory distress or failure. Nasal flaring is the
body's response in effort to increase the size of the airway and attempt to draw in more air
with each breath. Expect to initially see an increased respiratory and heart rate with laboured
breathing. As the pt begins to tire, the respiratory rate and quality will begin to decrease,
which worsens the problem.
An unresponsive 43 y/o M is cool, pale, diaphoretic, and breathing 6 times a minute. Which
device should you use to administer O2.
a. BVM
b. NRM
c. simple face mask
d. NC - correct answer-a. BVM
He is unresponsive and breathing too slow. This is a "sick" pt and assisting his ventilations
should be the first intervention. You can increase his respiratory rate with a BVM, which is
why it is the most correct choice.
An alert 32 y/o F complains of difficulty breathing. She speaks in 2-3 word sentences and
has an O2 saturation of 92%. What should you do?
a. obtain vital signs
b. apply high-flow oxygen
c. assist her with her metred dose inhaler
d. assist ventilations with a BVM - correct answer-b. apply high-flow oxygen
She is alert and her respirations are still effective without the need for assisting ventilations.
She only complains of SOB, so applying high-flow oxygen should be the first treatment.
What is the term for high-pitched whistling sounds heard during expiration?
a. snoring
b. friction rub
c. stridor
d. wheezing - correct answer-d. wheezing
Wheezing suggests there is a lower airway obstruction or constriction. Exhalation is a
passive process, and the wheezing noise is air passively leaving constricted bronchioles.
