Rrt Cards

Front 1

sputum production > 30 ml/ day indicates

Back 1

need for airway clearance

Front 2

central cyanosis indicates

Back 2

low arterial hemoglobin saturation

Front 3

central cyanosis appears

Back 3

when Sao2 drops blelow 80% or a PaO2 of about 45-50 torr

usually evidentas a bluish discoloration of the mucous membranes of the lips and mouth

Front 4

peripheral cyanosis or acrocyanosis is due to

Back 4

poor blood flow. it can occur in the presence of normal HB saturation, and tends to appear only in the extremities. When observed together with coolness of the extremities, perhipheral cyanosis suggest circulatory failure.

Front 5

Macroglossia

Back 5

an unusually large tongue

Front 6

Hypoxia can occur without cyanosis in patients with what disorder?

hypothermia

hyperthermia
polycythemia
anemia

Back 6

anemia

Front 7

Upon palpating a patient's pulse, you note 85 unevenly spaced beats, with a marked
decreased in pulse strength during inspiration. Which of the following describes the
patient's pulse?

thready pulse
bounding pulse
pulsus alternans
pulsus paradoxus

Back 7

pulsus paradoxus

A decrease in pulse strength or blood pressure during inspiration is termed
pulsus paradoxus. It is often seen in patients during severe episodes of airway
obstruction (e.g., status asthmaticus) and also in patients with constrictive pericarditis
or cardiac tamponade.

Front 8

Which of the following are clinical signs of reduced cardiac output or poor tissue
perfusion?
1. weak peripheral pulses
2. cool extremities
3. tachycardia
4. hypotension
5. reduced urinary output

2, 3, 4 and 5
1, 3 and 4 only
3, 4 and 5 only
1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Back 8

1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Front 9

When inspecting the X-ray of an out-patient with nephrotic syndrome, you note a
homogeneous area of increased density that obscures the left costophrenic angle. Which
of the following is the most likely problem?

pleural effusion
bacterial pneumonia
pulmonary edema
atelectasis

Back 9

Pleural effusion

Pleural effusion is commonly associated with cardiac failure, but can also occur
with certain infections, metastasis, renal disease (especially nephrotic syndrome) and
collagen vascular disorders. On X-ray, pleural effusion appears as homogeneous areas of
increased density that are position- dependent. If the patient is upright, fluid will
accumulates in and 'blunt' or obscure the costophrenic angles. If the patient is placed in
a decubitus position, the effusion will 'layer out' laterally.

Front 10

A patient has a lower than normal mixed venous O2 content. All of the following
could cause this condition EXCEPT:

cardiogenic shock
hyperthermia
cyanide poisoning
hypovolemia

Back 10

cyanide poisoning

A lower than normal mixed venous O2 content (CVO2) indicates impaired tissue
oxygenation. A low CVO2
can be due to reduced oxygen delivery (decreased Hb, PO2, or cardiac output), or increased oxygen demand. Cardiogenic shock and hypovolemia both decrease cardiac output, while hyperthermia increases oxygen demand. In cyanide poisoning, the CVO2
can be higher than normal, even though tissue hypoxia may be present.

Front 11

Before administration of a prescribed bronchodilator, an asthmatic patient with wheezing has a FEV1 of 3.7 L. Thirty minutes after aerosol administration of
the drug, the patient's FEV1 is 4.1 L. Based on this information you would:

wait another 30 minutes and repeat the test

recommend increasing the bronchodilator dosage

recommend discontinuing bronchodilator therapy

recommend decreasing the bronchodilator dosage

Back 11

recommend increasing the bronchodilator dosage

In this patient's case, the change in FEV1 is less than 10% [(4.1 – 3.7)/4.1 = 9.7%], indicates a lack of significant improvement in airway caliber. In order to relieve the patient's symptoms, you should recommend increasing the dose of the prescribed bronchodilator.