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A patient with a closed head injury has had a cuffed tracheostomy tube in place for several weeks. The physician wishes to decannulate the patient but maintain the patency of the stoma for secretion removal. Which of the following devices would facilitate this request?

The respiratory therapist prepares to assist with a bronchoscopy for a patient in the ICU currently receiving mechanical ventilation in the A/C VC mode. The therapist should anticipate addressing all of the following considerations EXCEPT

Which of the following best defines the Traditional Sandwich group?

What is the normal urine output in an adult patient?

The high pressure alarm sounds frequently on the ventilator of a 58-year-old patient who is being mechanically ventilated following a major orthopedic surgery. The mandatory rate on the ventilator is 12/min and auscultation reveals bilateral vesicular breath sounds. Current vital signs include: HR 130/min, RR 36/min, blood pressure 125/88 mmHg, Temperature 37.1 degrees Celsius, and SpO2 96%. The patient appears quite agitated. The patient’s respiratory pattern is most likely the result of: 

A sudden increase in end-tidal CO2 occurs in a mechanically ventilated patient. A repeat analysis yields the same results. Which of the following situations might account for these readings? 

A 60-year-old male has just been extubated following coronary artery bypass grafting. His chest X-ray demonstrates platelike infiltrates with scattered densities, and he is noted to have decreased chest expansion with an increased respiratory rate. Which of the following treatments should be recommended for this patient?  

A 44-year-old patient who suffered a cerebral vascular accident has been moved from the Neuro-ICU to the step-down unit. He becomes diaphoretic and his SpO2 suddenly drops from 95% to 88% on a 32% tracheostomy collar. His heart rate is 115/min, RR is 42/min, and his breath sounds are very diminished. The respiratory therapist is unsuccessful in attempting to pass a 12 Fr suction catheter. The respiratory therapist should:

A 42-year-old trauma patient in the ED has been intubated with a 6.5 mm oral endotracheal tube equipped with a high-residual-volume, low-pressure cuff. The respiratory therapist notes that a cuff pressure of 42 cm H2O is necessary to achieve a minimal occluding volume. This would indicate that the: 

A 50 kg (110 lb) patient is mechanically ventilated with the following settings: A/C VC, VT 400 mL, RR 14/min, PEEP 10 cmH2O, and FiO2 of 60%. The chest x-ray demonstrates diffuse bilateral radiopacitiy. ABG results are: pH 7.36, PaCO2 47, PaO2 50, HCO3- 26. The respiratory therapist should increase the: