Question 1

When a patient has a flail chest, what happens during the ventilatory cycle?

Accepted Answer

A)   The I:E ratio becomes inverse.
B)   Air leaks out through the flail area.
C)   Air leaks in through the flail area.
D)   Air is shunted from one lung to the other.E) C) and D)
F) B) and C)

Question 2

How many days of ventilatory support are anticipated for a patient with a flail chest to allow sufficient time for bone healing?

Accepted Answer

A)   3 to 5 days
B)   5 to 10 days
C)   12 to 15 days
D)   18 to 21 daysE) B) and D)
F) B) and C)

Question 3

What is the term for abnormal gas movement from one lung to the other?

Accepted Answer

A)   Paradoxical movement
B)   Pendelluft
C)   Palindromic breathing
D)   Pneumatic shiftE) A) and D)
F) B) and D)

Question 4

Which breath sounds would be expected to be heard when auscultating the chest of a patient with a flail chest?

Accepted Answer

A)   Diminished over the flail chest section only
B)   Diminished over both lungs
C)   Crackles over the flail chest section
D)   Bilateral wheezingE) A) and C)
F) None of the above B

Question 5

Which of the following initial blood gas results would a respiratory therapist expect to find in a patient with a mild flail chest?

Accepted Answer

A)   Elevated pH and elevated SaO2
B)   Decreased pH and decreased SaO2
C)   Increased pH and decreased SaO2
D)   Decreased pH and increased SaO2E) A) and C)
F) None of the above

Question 6

Which of the following statements is true regarding paradoxical chest movement?

Accepted Answer

A)   With inspiration, the flail section moves outward.
B)   The trachea deviates away from the flail side of the chest.
C)   During inspiration, the flail section moves inward.
D)   During exhalation, the flail area moves inward.E) B) and C)
F) B) and D) C

Question 7

Which of the following can stimulate an increased respiratory rate when a flail chest is present?
1)  Activation of deflation receptors
2)  Activation of irritant receptors
3)  Stimulation of J receptors
4)  Hypotension

Accepted Answer

A)  1, 3
B)  1, 4
C)  1, 2, 3
D)  2, 3, 4E) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 8

Which of the following accurately describes a flail chest?

Accepted Answer

A)   Double fractures of two adjacent ribs
B)   Double fractures of three adjacent ribs
C)   Single fracture of three adjacent ribs
D)   Triple fractures of two adjacent ribsE) A) and B)
F) None of the above

Question 9

Which of the following would be recommended for the management of an adult with a severe flail chest?
1)  Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) 
2)  Pain management
3)  Mechanical ventilation
4)  Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP)

Accepted Answer

A)  1, 2
B)  2, 3
C)  2, 3, 4
D)  1, 3, 4E) None of the above
F) B) and D) C

Question 10

Which of the following are causes of a flail chest?
1)  Blast injury
2)  Motor vehicle accident
3)  Split sternum for open heart surgery
4)  Fall from heights

Accepted Answer

A)  1, 3
B)  1, 2, 4
C)  2, 3, 4
D)  1, 2, 3E) A) and D)
F) C) and D)

Question 11

A patient with a flail chest is experiencing pendelluft. Which of the following would be expected in a patient with a flail chest with pendelluft?
1)  Hypoventilation
2)  Hypertension
3)  Cyclical deeper and then more shallow breathing
4)  Rebreathing dead-space gas

Accepted Answer

A)  1, 4
B)  1, 3
C)  2, 3, 4
D)  1, 3, 4E) A) and B)
F) B) and C)

Question 12

While assessing a patient who was involved in a serious car crash and hit his steering wheel, the respiratory therapist observes that a section of his left anterior chest wall sinks inward during inspiration. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

A)   Pulmonary fibrosis
B)   Flail chest
C)   Pneumothorax
D)   Cardiac tamponadeE) A) and B)
F) All of the above

Question 13

What is the most common finding at the site of the flail portion of a flail chest?

Accepted Answer

A)   Pulmonary contusion
B)   Pulmonary abscess
C)   Pulmonary edema
D)   Pulmonary fibrosisE) None of the above
F) B) and D)

Question 14

Which of the following are pathologic changes associated with a flail chest?
1)  Pneumothorax
2)  Secondary pneumonia
3)  Pleural effusion
4)  Elevated diaphragms

Accepted Answer

A)  1, 2
B)  3, 4
C)  1, 3, 4
D)  2, 3, 4E) C) and D)
F) A) and B)

Question 15

Which of the following chest radiograph findings would be expected for a patient with a flail chest?
1)  Increased opacity
2)  Rib fractures
3)  Decreased opacity
4)  Tracheal deviation

Accepted Answer

A)  1, 2
B)  1, 4
C)  2, 3
D)  2, 4E) A) and B)
F) B) and D)

Question 16

What is the primary cause of hypoxemia in a patient with a severe flail chest?

Accepted Answer

A)   Myocardial contusion
B)   Hemorrhage
C)   Pulmonary edema
D)   Alveolar atelectasisE) None of the above
F) A) and B)

Exam 22: Flail Chest

When a patient has a flail chest, what happens during the ventilatory cycle?

Correct Answer
verified

How many days of ventilatory support are anticipated for a patient with a flail chest to allow sufficient time for bone healing?

Correct Answer
verified

What is the term for abnormal gas movement from one lung to the other?

Correct Answer
verified

Which breath sounds would be expected to be heard when auscultating the chest of a patient with a flail chest?

Correct Answer
verified
B

Which of the following initial blood gas results would a respiratory therapist expect to find in a patient with a mild flail chest?

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following statements is true regarding paradoxical chest movement?

Correct Answer
verified
C

Which of the following can stimulate an increased respiratory rate when a flail chest is present? 1) Activation of deflation receptors 2) Activation of irritant receptors 3) Stimulation of J receptors 4) Hypotension

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following accurately describes a flail chest?

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following would be recommended for the management of an adult with a severe flail chest? 1) Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) 2) Pain management 3) Mechanical ventilation 4) Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP)

Correct Answer
verified
C

Which of the following are causes of a flail chest? 1) Blast injury 2) Motor vehicle accident 3) Split sternum for open heart surgery 4) Fall from heights

Correct Answer
verified

A patient with a flail chest is experiencing pendelluft. Which of the following would be expected in a patient with a flail chest with pendelluft? 1) Hypoventilation 2) Hypertension 3) Cyclical deeper and then more shallow breathing 4) Rebreathing dead-space gas

Correct Answer
verified

While assessing a patient who was involved in a serious car crash and hit his steering wheel, the respiratory therapist observes that a section of his left anterior chest wall sinks inward during inspiration. What is the most likely cause?

Correct Answer
verified

What is the most common finding at the site of the flail portion of a flail chest?

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following are pathologic changes associated with a flail chest? 1) Pneumothorax 2) Secondary pneumonia 3) Pleural effusion 4) Elevated diaphragms

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following chest radiograph findings would be expected for a patient with a flail chest? 1) Increased opacity 2) Rib fractures 3) Decreased opacity 4) Tracheal deviation

Correct Answer
verified

What is the primary cause of hypoxemia in a patient with a severe flail chest?

Correct Answer
verified

Exam 22: Flail Chest

When a patient has a flail chest, what happens during the ventilatory cycle?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How many days of ventilatory support are anticipated for a patient with a flail chest to allow sufficient time for bone healing?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What is the term for abnormal gas movement from one lung to the other?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which breath sounds would be expected to be heard when auscultating the chest of a patient with a flail chest?

Correct AnswerverifiedB

Which of the following initial blood gas results would a respiratory therapist expect to find in a patient with a mild flail chest?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following statements is true regarding paradoxical chest movement?

Correct AnswerverifiedC

Which of the following can stimulate an increased respiratory rate when a flail chest is present? 1) Activation of deflation receptors 2) Activation of irritant receptors 3) Stimulation of J receptors 4) Hypotension

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following accurately describes a flail chest?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following would be recommended for the management of an adult with a severe flail chest? 1) Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) 2) Pain management 3) Mechanical ventilation 4) Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP)

Correct AnswerverifiedC

Which of the following are causes of a flail chest? 1) Blast injury 2) Motor vehicle accident 3) Split sternum for open heart surgery 4) Fall from heights

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A patient with a flail chest is experiencing pendelluft. Which of the following would be expected in a patient with a flail chest with pendelluft? 1) Hypoventilation 2) Hypertension 3) Cyclical deeper and then more shallow breathing 4) Rebreathing dead-space gas

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

While assessing a patient who was involved in a serious car crash and hit his steering wheel, the respiratory therapist observes that a section of his left anterior chest wall sinks inward during inspiration. What is the most likely cause?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What is the most common finding at the site of the flail portion of a flail chest?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following are pathologic changes associated with a flail chest? 1) Pneumothorax 2) Secondary pneumonia 3) Pleural effusion 4) Elevated diaphragms

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following chest radiograph findings would be expected for a patient with a flail chest? 1) Increased opacity 2) Rib fractures 3) Decreased opacity 4) Tracheal deviation

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What is the primary cause of hypoxemia in a patient with a severe flail chest?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct Answer
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B

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C

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C

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Correct Answer
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