Question 1

The respiratory therapist is called to the neurologic care unit to assess the muscle strength of a patient diagnosed with myasthenia gravis. Which of the following tests should the therapist recommend to assess the patient's respiratory muscle strength?
A) Maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP)
B) Maximum inspiratory flowrate (MIFR)
C) Maximum expiratory flowrate (MEFR)
D) Vital capacity (VC)

Accepted Answer

Maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) is used to assess respiratory muscle strength, particularly in conditions like myasthenia gravis.

Question 2

The FEF_25%-75%is used to evaluate: A) flow in large airways. B) lung volumes. C) maximum breathing effort. D) flow in medium-size to small airways.

Accepted Answer

The FEF_25%-75% is used to evaluate flow in medium-size to small airways, as it measures the forced expiratory flow at 25% to 75% of the pulmonary volume, which reflects the status of these airways.

Question 3

Overall characteristics of pulmonary function testing results on a patient with obstructive lung disease include that the FEV₁: A) is reduced and FEV₁% is normal. B) and FEV₁% are both increased. C) and FEV₁% are both reduced. D) is increased and FEV₁% is decreased.

Accepted Answer

In obstructive lung disease, the Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1) and the FEV1% (which represents the FEV1 as a percentage of the predicted value for a person of the same age, sex, and size) are both reduced. This is due to the obstruction of air flow out of the lungs.

Question 4

A special indirect measurement procedure must be done to find which of the following?
A) Inspiratory reserve volume
B) Residual volume
C) Expiratory reserve volume
D) Inspiratory capacity

Accepted Answer

Residual volume cannot be measured directly using spirometry and requires special indirect methods such as gas dilution or body plethysmography.

Question 5

The pulmonary diffusion capacity of the carbon monoxide test is used to:
A) assess the patient's blood carbon monoxide level.
B) remove carbon monoxide from the patient's blood.
C) measure the residual volume.
D) assess the alveolar-capillary membrane.

Accepted Answer

The pulmonary diffusion capacity of the carbon monoxide test is used to assess the efficiency and function of the alveolar-capillary membrane in the lungs, specifically how well oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged between the alveoli and the blood.

Question 6

Which of the following are true of the peak expiratory flowrate test?
1) It is effort dependent.
2) It is taken from the FVC test results.
3) It is taken from the MVV test results.
4) It assesses large upper airways.
A)1, 3
B)1, 2, 4
C)2, 3, 4
D)1, 2, 3

Accepted Answer

The peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) test is effort dependent, meaning the results can vary based on the patient's effort during the test. It is derived from the forced vital capacity (FVC) test results, not the maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV) test. The PEFR primarily assesses the function of large upper airways, making options 1, 2, and 4 correct.

Question 7

In response to a restrictive lung disorder, which of the following is typically found?
1) Decreased lung compliance
2) Increased ventilatory rate
3) Decreased tidal volume
4) Decreased lung rigidity
A)1
B)2, 3
C)2, 3, 4
D)1, 2, 3

Accepted Answer

Restrictive lung disorders are characterized by decreased lung compliance, leading to a reduced ability to expand the lungs. This results in a decreased tidal volume. To compensate for the reduced volume of air per breath, the body increases the ventilatory rate to maintain adequate gas exchange. Lung rigidity is essentially another way to describe decreased compliance, not decreased, so it is not correct to say that lung rigidity decreases in this context.

Question 8

The respiratory therapist is performing a pulmonary function study on a patient who has periodic symptoms of asthma. The pulmonary function results are within normal limits. What further testing can the therapist recommend to aid in either confirming or negating the possible diagnosis?
A) Inhaled methacholine challenge testing
B) Body plethysmography
C) Inhaled digitalis
D) Warm, humid air challenge

Accepted Answer

Inhaled methacholine challenge testing is used to diagnose asthma, especially when symptoms are intermittent and baseline pulmonary function tests are normal. Methacholine is a known bronchoconstrictor, and if the patient's airways are hyperresponsive, as in asthma, this test will cause narrowing of the airways and confirm the diagnosis.

Question 9

A patient has restrictive lung disease. In response to this, which of the following are typically found?
1) Decreased lung compliance
2) Increased ventilatory rate
3) Increased tidal volume
4) Decreased ventilatory rate
A)3, 4
B)2, 3
C)1, 2
D)1, 3, 4

Accepted Answer

Restrictive lung disease is characterized by decreased lung compliance, making it harder for the lungs to expand. This leads to an increased ventilatory rate as the body attempts to meet its oxygen demands despite the reduced lung volume.

Question 10

Pulmonary function studies are done for which of the following measurements?
1) The patient's carbon monoxide level
2) Lung volumes and capacities
3) Pulmonary diffusion capacity
4) Forced expiratory flowrates
A)1
B)2, 3
C)2, 3, 4
D)1, 2, 3

Accepted Answer

Pulmonary function studies are designed to measure various aspects of lung function, including lung volumes and capacities (to assess how much air the lungs can hold), pulmonary diffusion capacity (to evaluate how well the lungs can exchange gases), and forced expiratory flow rates (to determine how quickly a person can exhale air). These measurements help in diagnosing and monitoring lung diseases. Carbon monoxide levels are not directly assessed in pulmonary function tests; they are more relevant to poisoning cases or to assess smoking status and not lung function per se.

Question 11

Total lung capacity is composed of which of the following?
1) IRV
2) IC
3) ERV
4) RV
A)3, 4
B)2, 3
C)1, 2
D)2, 3, 4

Accepted Answer

Total lung capacity is the sum of all lung volumes, including inspiratory reserve volume (IRV), expiratory reserve volume (ERV), tidal volume (TV), and residual volume (RV).

Question 12

In a healthy individual, which of the following is considered a normal expiratory time necessary to perform a forced vital capacity?
A) Less than 4 seconds
B) 4 to 6 seconds
C) 6 to 8 seconds
D) 8 to 10 seconds

Accepted Answer

The normal expiratory time necessary to perform a forced vital capacity (FVC) maneuver in a healthy individual is typically 4 to 6 seconds. This allows for the complete exhalation of air from the lungs during the test.

Question 13

A respiratory therapist has just performed a pulmonary function study and notes that the results show obstructive lung disease with a decreased DLCO value. Which of the following is the best interpretation of these results?
A) The patient has pulmonary fibrosis.
B) The patient has asthma.
C) The patient has cystic fibrosis.
D) The patient has emphysema.

Accepted Answer

A decreased DLCO (diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide) value in the context of obstructive lung disease is most indicative of emphysema. Emphysema involves damage to the alveoli, reducing the surface area available for gas exchange, which explains the decreased DLCO.

Quiz 4: Pulmonary Function Testing

The respiratory therapist is called to the neurologic care unit to assess the muscle strength of a patient diagnosed with myasthenia gravis. Which of the following tests should the therapist recommend to assess the patient's respiratory muscle strength?

The FEF25%-75% is used to evaluate:

Overall characteristics of pulmonary function testing results on a patient with obstructive lung disease include that the FEV1:

A special indirect measurement procedure must be done to find which of the following?

The pulmonary diffusion capacity of the carbon monoxide test is used to:

Which of the following are true of the peak expiratory flowrate test? 1) It is effort dependent. 2) It is taken from the FVC test results. 3) It is taken from the MVV test results. 4) It assesses large upper airways.

In response to a restrictive lung disorder, which of the following is typically found? 1) Decreased lung compliance 2) Increased ventilatory rate 3) Decreased tidal volume 4) Decreased lung rigidity

The respiratory therapist is performing a pulmonary function study on a patient who has periodic symptoms of asthma. The pulmonary function results are within normal limits. What further testing can the therapist recommend to aid in either confirming or negating the possible diagnosis?

A patient has restrictive lung disease. In response to this, which of the following are typically found? 1) Decreased lung compliance 2) Increased ventilatory rate 3) Increased tidal volume 4) Decreased ventilatory rate

Pulmonary function studies are done for which of the following measurements? 1) The patient's carbon monoxide level 2) Lung volumes and capacities 3) Pulmonary diffusion capacity 4) Forced expiratory flowrates

Total lung capacity is composed of which of the following? 1) IRV 2) IC 3) ERV 4) RV

In a healthy individual, which of the following is considered a normal expiratory time necessary to perform a forced vital capacity?

A respiratory therapist has just performed a pulmonary function study and notes that the results show obstructive lung disease with a decreased DLCO value. Which of the following is the best interpretation of these results?

The FEF_25%-75%is used to evaluate:

Overall characteristics of pulmonary function testing results on a patient with obstructive lung disease include that the FEV₁: