FCCS Review Questions and Answers
Rated A+
What is the most important sign in a critically ill pt? Why? ✔✔Tachypnea
Indicates metabolic acidosis w/ respiratory alkalosis compensation
A pt misses dialysis for a few da
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FCCS Review Questions and Answers
Rated A+
What is the most important sign in a critically ill pt? Why? ✔✔Tachypnea
Indicates metabolic acidosis w/ respiratory alkalosis compensation
A pt misses dialysis for a few days and comes in with fluid overload. He's tachycardic and
tachypneic. On physical exam, you find JVD, pulsus paradoxus (20 mmHg drop during
inspiration), and HoTN (80/40) with distant, muffled heart sounds. Lungs are clear to
auscultation. What is the dx? ✔✔Cardiac tamponade; obstructive shock
If a pt has a thyromental distance of 2 cm, what can you expect about their airway? ✔✔Difficult
airway w/ an anteriorly displaced larynx
A COPD pt comes in with difficulty breathing. He then becomes apneic and unresponsive. How
would you ventilate this pt? ✔✔BVM
A pt arrives after falling from a ladder and has a frontal laceration. On examination, you find
papilledema and labored breathing w/o being able to clear secretions. What is your biggest
concern when intubating this pt? ✔✔Cerebral edema/increasing ICP
Intubation tends to cause an increase in ICP. Administer lidocaine prior to intubation to inhibit
vagal stimulation.
An ESRD pt w/ hyperkalemia develops dyspnea and requires intubation. Which paralytic
agent/NMB should you avoid and why? ✔✔Succinylcholine
Worsens hyperkalemia
A pt is admitted after an OD. He starts to have apneic episodes and his SpO2 is dropping. You
place him on a non-rebreather mask w/ 100% O2, yet his SpO2 remains at 80%. Why is it not
being corrected?
Then, if you try a BVM and it also fails, and video laryngoscopy is unavailable, what is your
next best choice for an airway? ✔✔The pt is having apneic episodes, which means that
administering high-flow O2 will be ineffective.
Choose an LMA if the BVM fails.
What intervention improves outcomes with ROSC after cardiac arrest? ✔✔Targeted temperature
management.
32-36 C
A shunt means there is perfusion without ventilation. What disease process is an example of a
shunt? ✔✔Pneumonia
Which type of respiratory failure occurs with CNS depression after an OD? ✔✔Acute
hypercapnic respiratory failure --> mixed
A 50 y/o pt is having a COPD exacerbation. You have tried steroids, bronchodilators, etc. with
no improvement. PCO2 is in the 90s, pH is 7.20. You decide to intubate. Vent settings are: VT
375, RR 20, FiO2 .35, PEEP 5. CXR is normal. A few minutes later, his BP drops to 70/40.
Lungs are clear/equal. Vent shows peak airway pressure of 55 (high) and plateau pressure of 15.
End expiratory hold gives auto-peep of 15.
What is the cause of this pt's HoTN and why? ✔✔Auto-peep is the cause.
COPD pts have difficulty exhaling --> pressure buildup in alveoli.
We use PEEP for the pressure and to improve oxygenation. Auto-peep comes from breathstacking --> intrinsic peep. Alveoli enlarge --> high peak airway pressure. All leads to low
venous return --> low CO --> HoTN
A COPD pt is admitted to the ICU for exacerbation. Pt is on a vent. Pt is tx w/ bronchodilators,
steroids, and Abx. ABG was normal 1 hr ago, but now the peak airway pressure is up to 55 and
plateau pressure is also high at 50. Pt becomes hypotensive at 70/40. You observe tracheal
deviation to the R. Normal breath sounds on the right, diminished on the left. No wheezing.
WBC is normal.
What is the dx and treatment? ✔✔Tension pneumothorax
Needle decompression/chest tube
A pt in ARDS s/p pneumonia is on 100% FiO2 with PEEP of 22. PO2 is 88%. Peak airway
pressure and plateau are both high. VT is 5 ml/kg.
How can you decrease the airway pressures? ✔✔Decrease the PEEP, even though it will
decrease PaO2.
(Note: you can't decrease the VT because it is already on the low end).
A young asthmatic pt is on the vent. His lungs are very tight. He is on the AC setting and there is
a lot of auto-PEEP. You correct it by reducing the rate, giving him more time to exhale and
making sure he has enough flow. FiO2 is at .50. He is sedated and seems comfortable. On ABG
the pH is 7.24, CO2 is 65, O2 is 80, and bicarb is 29.
What would you do with the vent settings in this case? ✔✔Keep the settings where they are.
You can't hyperventilate the pt to blow off CO2 b/c the asthma will worsen. As long as the pH is
> 7.2, the settings are okay as they are. CO2 will correct over time.
Which two conditions are the most indicated for BiPAP? ✔✔COPD exacerbation
Cardiogenic pulmonary edema
A 70 y/o pt with CHF presents with SOB, accessory muscle use, RR 34, SpO2 90% on 8L O2.
CXR reveals infiltrates in a bat wing pattern. She also has LE edema. She is dx with a CHF
exacerbation w/ respiratory failure. Her ABG shows pH 7.3, PO2 64, CO2 50.
What is the best tx for this pt? ✔✔Non-invasive BiPAP.
A pt comes in w/ a femur fx and a rod is placed. Post-op he develops dyspnea and fever. HR 140,
RR 30, SpO2 92% on non-rebreather. He is transferred to the ICU where you intubate, place a
central line, and start resuscitating him. Hb 8.2, lactate 3.2, SVO2 is 52%.
Why is his SVO2 low? How can we improve it? ✔✔Decreased O2 delivery and increased
consumption.
(normal is 65-70)
Administer packed RBCs - 1U of blood will change his Hb from 8.2 to 9.2. O2, fluid, and VT
would not work.
A young pt after an MVA comes to the ER hypotensive and tachycardic. CXR is clear. He has a
contusion on his chest wall and torso. He is unconscious. What will give you the best insight on
what is causing his shock?
Hb
SCV
Urine Output
FAST exam ✔✔FAST exam
41 y/o pt in the SICU following debridement of b/l lower extremities for necrotizing fasciitis is
intubated on AC. Temp 102, HR 116, RR 16, BP 92/46. ABG shows pH 7.23, PO2 133, PCO2
38, Na 139, K 3.7, Cl 102, Bicarb 16, lactate 4. Dx is metabolic acidosis w/ anion gap d/t
infection.
What is the most appropriate intervention?
Increase VT
Continue resuscitation
Decrease RR
Administer bicarb ✔✔Continue resuscitation. Don't need to increase VT bc the pt doesn't have
respiratory acidosis. If you decrease the RR, the pt will go into respiratory acidosis.
A pt has obstructive uropathy. A catheter is placed d/t the obstructive kidney injury. After the
cath is placed, he has massive diuresis to the point where he is hypotensive, tachy, and lactate is
2x the ULN from decreased perfusion.
How would you correct this? ✔✔Fluids - LR
When treating hyponatremia, what is the first thing to assess?
When do you give 3% NaCl?
How do you correct it? ✔✔1. fluid status
2. seizures or changes in mental status
3. slowly, 8-12 meq over 24 hr
What are the classifications of hemorrhagic shock? ✔✔I: <15%; HR <100, BP normal, RR
normal
II: 15-30%; HR >100, BP normal, RR 20-30
III: 30-40%; HR >120, BP low, RR 30-40
IV: >40%; HR >140, BP low, RR >40
An 84 y/o pt fell down the stairs. He is moaning and crying. He has a C-collar in place. His neck
is painful and he has bruising on his face. He is tachy but BP is okay. You administer 2L O2 bc
SpO2 was 92%. Shortly after he deteriorates, becoming altered and then comatose. His left pupil
> the right. He is herniating from cerebral edema.
How do you treat him? ✔✔Intubate and ventilate, maintaining c-spine precautions. Administer
mannitol.
A pt comes in with several cardiovascular RFs: elderly, DM, and HTN. He is having chest pain,
SOB, and is diaphoretic. What diagnosis do you need to re-perfuse him immediately?
✔✔STEMI
What is the most appropriate management for both STEMI and non-STEMI?
nitro if bp >80
morphine q 30 min
bb
oxygen if sats are <94% ✔✔Oxygen
Which NSTEMI needs to be sent to the cath lab immediately? ✔✔NSTEMI w/ shock
Which medication improves outcomes for pts with STEMI? ✔✔ACE-I
Give if BP is stable. It decreases LV remodeling and decreases afterload.
A 70 y/o pt has been hospitalized for 15 days. He had a cholecystectomy and abscess formation
which was tx appropriately. He has a central line in the right IJ. The site looks visibly infected,
and he has a fever, is tachy, and hypotensive. WBCs are high. Blood culture and initial gram
stain reveals G(+) cocci.
What is the dx?
What is the MC pathogen?
What is the tx? ✔✔1. line-related infection
2. coag (-) staph epidermis
3. vanco + zosyn + ceftriaxone
if MRSA: vanco + ceftriaxone
if MSSA: zosyn + ceftriaxone
What is the tx for meningitis? ✔✔young pt: ceftriaxone + vanco
> 50 pt: add ampicillin
A chemotherapy pt becomes septic. You suspect a neutropenic fever. What is the tx? ✔✔broad
spectrum abx (vanco/zosyn)
obtain blood, urine, and sputum culture
CXR + CT
What is the tx of hyperkalemia? ✔✔calcium gluconate + insulin + dextrose
bicarb, kayexalate, albuterol
definitive tx: dialysis
How do you manage DKA? ✔✔Check potassium
Multiple L bolus via at least 2 peripheral IVs
Insulin infusion, 0.1U/kg/hr until sugar reaches 250 mg/dl
Switch NS to D5W
Once anion gap is closed, administer long-acting insulin 1 hr prior to d/c infusion
A 70 y/o pt with COPD comes in with an exacerbation. He is rapidly becoming more hypoxic.
To rule out PE, what test should you order? ✔✔CT
A 22 y/o pt ingested drugs >4 hours ago. She came to the ICU obtunded w/ arousal to tactile
stimulation. She is hemodynamically stable. RR 8 with an NG tube in place. What is the next
step for tx of the ingestion? ✔✔Monitor / watchful waiting.
The pt ingested the drugs more than 4 hours ago. Monitor RR and intubate if necessary.
A pt presents with HTN, ripping/tearing pain to the back, and unequal pulses.
What is the dx?
What is the tx goal and what should you use?
What medication is contraindicated? ✔✔1. aortic dissection
2. lower BP and HR
3. Labetalol, no reflex tachycardia
4. Nitro is contraindicated
What decreases during pregnancy by ~25%? ✔✔Functional residual capacity
A 24 y/o male comes in following a concussion. CT reveals a frontal lobe contusion. He does not
require intubation and is kept on 3 L O2 NC. He then suddenly has a generalized seizure.
What is the DOC?
What do you give after the seizure?
What med class is an absolute contraindication for seizures? ✔✔1. lorazepam IV
2. dilantin
3. NMB
a 55 y/o male comes in with AMS and diffuse abdominal pain. He takes HCTZ and a
multivitamin. HR 120 sinus tach. He is moaning in pain and unable to articulate what is
happening. CT reveals lytic lesions in the vertebrae. You administer a 3L NS bolus which shows
mild improvement.
What is the dx and what is causing his symptoms?
How do you tx? ✔✔Dx: multiple myeloma
The hypercalcemia is what is causing the symptoms.
Tx: Fluids, then diuretic or bisphosphonate if symptoms persist.
How do you treat septic shock (4 things)? ✔✔2-3 L bolus
NE
Vasopressin
Steroids
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