Advanced Ventilatory Support Exam Questions and Answers

320 Questions and Answers

$15.00

Master the complexities of advanced ventilatory support with this professionally crafted practice quiz, ideal for respiratory therapists, nursing students, and healthcare professionals preparing for ventilatory management exams, critical care certifications, and clinical respiratory assessments.

This high-level quiz covers essential topics in mechanical ventilation, including positive pressure ventilation, ventilator modes, PEEP optimization, volume vs pressure control, weaning protocols, ARDS management, and ventilator troubleshooting. Each question is paired with in-depth rationales, helping you understand not only the what, but also the why behind every clinical decision in advanced respiratory care.

The Advanced Ventilatory Support Practice Quiz simulates real clinical scenarios and is tailored to enhance your confidence in critical care environments. Whether you’re preparing for a NBRC exam, an ICU competency assessment, or looking to sharpen your practical knowledge in mechanical ventilatory support, this quiz is your essential prep tool.

What You’ll Learn and Master:

  • Advanced ventilatory strategies and settings

  • Indications and contraindications for mechanical ventilation

  • Interpretation of ventilator waveforms

  • Oxygenation vs ventilation imbalance management

  • Non-invasive vs invasive support techniques

  • High-frequency ventilation and lung-protective strategies

  • Real-world application of ventilator alarms, settings, and adjustments

Who Is This For?


Respiratory therapists, ICU nurses, medical students, clinical educators, and anyone preparing for an advanced ventilatory support exam, critical care certification, or board exam in respiratory therapy.

Includes:

  • Comprehensive, clinically relevant multiple-choice questions

  • Step-by-step explanations for each answer

  • Unlimited access after download

  • Fully aligned with national respiratory care and critical care standards

Sample Questions and Answers

In APRV, what is the main function of TLow?

A) Maintain high alveolar pressure
B) Allow brief expiration for CO2 clearance
C) Prolong inspiratory time
D) Set a fixed tidal volume

Answer: B

What is a key limitation of ECCO2R?

A) Cannot provide oxygenation support
B) Causes severe hypercapnia
C) Requires large cannulas
D) Increases blood flow resistance

Answer: A

Which of the following increases CO2 clearance in High-Frequency Jet Ventilation (HFJV)?

A) Increasing amplitude
B) Increasing frequency
C) Reducing mean airway pressure
D) Increasing inspiratory time

Answer: A

What complication is most common in ECMO therapy?

A) Coagulopathy and bleeding
B) Pulmonary embolism
C) Myocardial infarction
D) Hyperventilation

Answer: A

A patient on veno-venous ECMO develops hypoxia despite 100% oxygen delivery. What is the most likely cause?

A) Oxygenator failure
B) Increased cardiac output
C) Hypercapnia
D) Excessive tidal volume

Answer: A

What is a major advantage of Proportional Assist Ventilation (PAV)?

A) Dynamically adjusts to patient demand
B) Provides complete control of ventilation
C) Prevents all patient effort
D) Eliminates the need for sedation

Answer: A

Which ECMO mode is indicated for refractory cardiogenic shock?

A) Veno-venous ECMO
B) Veno-arterial ECMO
C) Extracorporeal CO2 removal
D) Invasive mechanical ventilation

Answer: B

In HFOV, reducing frequency has what effect on CO2 clearance?

A) Increases CO2 elimination
B) Decreases CO2 elimination
C) Increases oxygenation
D) Increases airway resistance

Answer: A

Which advanced ventilatory mode is most suitable for a patient with spontaneous breathing effort and ARDS?

A) NAVA
B) Volume-Controlled Ventilation (VCV)
C) APRV
D) High-Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation (HFOV)

Answer: C

 

In Adaptive Support Ventilation (ASV), which parameter is primarily used to determine ventilatory settings?

A) Ideal body weight and lung mechanics
B) Fixed tidal volume
C) Peak inspiratory flow
D) Arterial blood gas results

Answer: A

Which of the following is a key feature of Proportional Assist Ventilation (PAV)?

A) Fixed inspiratory pressure
B) Dynamic adjustment based on patient effort
C) Mandatory controlled breaths
D) Requires neuromuscular blockade

Answer: B

What is the primary benefit of Airway Pressure Release Ventilation (APRV)?

A) Allows spontaneous breathing while maintaining alveolar recruitment
B) Requires no patient effort
C) Uses very low airway pressures
D) Eliminates the need for FiO₂ adjustments

Answer: A

What is the major function of ECMO in severe ARDS?

A) Fully replace mechanical ventilation
B) Improve oxygenation while allowing lung-protective ventilation
C) Provide cardiac support only
D) Eliminate the need for sedation

Answer: B

In High-Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation (HFOV), which setting has the most direct effect on CO clearance?

A) Oscillation amplitude
B) Mean airway pressure
C) Inspiratory time
D) Frequency

Answer: A

What is a primary indication for veno-arterial ECMO (VA-ECMO)?

A) Isolated hypoxemic respiratory failure
B) Cardiogenic shock with severe respiratory distress
C) Severe metabolic acidosis
D) COPD exacerbation

Answer: B

Which of the following ECMO complications is most common?

A) Hemorrhage
B) Hypercapnia
C) Myocardial infarction
D) Hypertension

Answer: A

In NAVA, what physiological signal is used to trigger ventilation?

A) Airway pressure
B) Electrical activity of the diaphragm (Edi)
C) Tidal volume
D) End-tidal CO₂

Answer: B

A patient on VV-ECMO develops worsening hypoxemia despite adequate circuit function. What is the most likely cause?

A) Oxygenator thrombosis
B) Increased pulmonary shunting
C) Low hemoglobin levels
D) High ECMO blood flow

Answer: B

In HFOV, how does increasing oscillation frequency affect ventilation?

A) Decreases CO₂ clearance
B) Increases CO₂ clearance
C) Increases mean airway pressure
D) Enhances lung recruitment

Answer: A

What is the primary limitation of Extracorporeal CO Removal (ECCOR)?

A) Limited oxygenation support
B) Requires large cannulas
C) Increases cardiac output
D) Causes severe acidosis

Answer: A

What is a major risk of Proportional Assist Ventilation (PAV)?

A) Does not support apneic patients
B) Requires fixed pressure levels
C) Prevents patient-ventilator interaction
D) Reduces compliance adaptation

Answer: A

Which ventilatory mode is most suitable for a patient with ARDS and spontaneous breathing effort?

A) Volume-Controlled Ventilation (VCV)
B) APRV
C) High-Frequency Ventilation (HFV)
D) SIMV

Answer: B

What is a key feature of Adaptive Support Ventilation (ASV)?

A) Delivers fixed pressure regardless of lung mechanics
B) Adjusts ventilatory parameters automatically based on patient condition
C) Requires deep sedation for effectiveness
D) Uses a mandatory respiratory rate

Answer: B

In ECMO, what is the function of the bladder reservoir?

A) Acts as a pressure buffer in the circuit
B) Enhances CO₂ removal
C) Regulates blood temperature
D) Increases oxygenation efficiency

Answer: A

Which setting in APRV has the greatest effect on CO clearance?

A) TLow
B) THigh
C) PEEP
D) FiO₂

Answer: A

Which parameter in HFOV directly influences alveolar recruitment?

A) Amplitude
B) Mean airway pressure
C) Frequency
D) Inspiratory time

Answer: B

In VA-ECMO, which of the following may cause differential hypoxia (Harlequin syndrome)?

A) High cardiac output
B) Poor left ventricular ejection
C) Decreased ECMO flow
D) Increased lung compliance

Answer: B

What is the main goal of Neurally Adjusted Ventilatory Assist (NAVA)?

A) Provide fully controlled mechanical ventilation
B) Improve patient-ventilator synchrony by using diaphragm signals
C) Eliminate the need for ventilatory support
D) Fix tidal volume settings

Answer: B

What is a key indication for ECCOR therapy?

A) Severe ARDS with refractory hypoxemia
B) Hypercapnic respiratory failure with low ventilatory requirements
C) Myocardial infarction with cardiogenic shock
D) High-altitude pulmonary edema

Answer: B

A patient on VA-ECMO develops worsening pulmonary edema. What is the most likely cause?

A) Increased left atrial pressure
B) Low ECMO blood flow
C) Excessive CO₂ removal
D) High hematocrit

Answer: A

What is the major advantage of HFOV in ARDS?

A) Maintains lung recruitment with low tidal volumes
B) Provides full cardiovascular support
C) Eliminates CO₂ retention
D) Reduces ventilatory drive

Answer: A

What is a major contraindication for VA-ECMO?

A) Severe left ventricular failure
B) Unrecoverable multi-organ failure
C) Refractory hypoxemia
D) Acute pulmonary embolism

Answer: B

Which of the following increases CO removal in ECCOR?

A) Increased blood flow through the oxygenator
B) Decreasing sweep gas flow
C) Lowering hemoglobin levels
D) Increasing PEEP

Answer: A

In HFOV, reducing frequency results in:

A) Increased CO₂ elimination
B) Decreased lung recruitment
C) Higher mean airway pressure
D) Increased dead space ventilation

Answer: A

What is the primary function of the ECMO pump?

A) Oxygenate blood
B) Circulate blood through the extracorporeal circuit
C) Remove excess CO₂
D) Maintain normal blood pressure

Answer: B

Reviews

There are no reviews yet.

Be the first to review “Advanced Ventilatory Support Exam Questions and Answers”

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Shopping Cart
Scroll to Top