You are providing care for a 70-year-old patient with asthma weighing 70 kg who is being transported via fixed-wing aircraft to a tertiary care center. Arterial blood gas: pH 7.35, $$PaCO_{2}$$ 45 mm Hg, $$PaO_{2}$$ 60 mm Hg, HCO3- 24 mEq/L. Current ventilator settings: SIMV, tidal volume (Vt) 550 mL, respiratory rate 14/min, PEEP 5 cm $$H_{2}O$$, $$FiO_{2}$$ 0.50. Which ventilator adjustment would best address the patient's hypoxemia?
Practise this FP-C Flight Paramedic Prep question free, then download the PDF, watch the video walkthrough, or unlock timed mock exams for the full web bank.
✓ Correct answer: A. Increase $$FiO_{2}$$ to 0.7The patient is hypoxemic ($$PaO_{2}$$ 60 mm Hg) while on $$FiO_{2}$$ 0.50. The most direct initial intervention to improve oxygenation is to increase $$FiO_{2}$$. Increasing PEEP could improve oxygenation if there is alveolar collapse but may risk worsening dynamic hyperinflation in obstructive disease and is not the first step here. Increasing tidal volume is unnecessary for hypoxemia and can increase the risk of barotrauma.
Keep practising. Use the free FP-C Flight Paramedic Prep PDF, watch the YouTube walkthrough, or unlock all 10 web questions with timed mock exams.
Free practice here. Timed mocks when you are ready.
Study the FP-C Flight Paramedic Prep free question explanations, download the PDF, then unlock timed mock exams on the web when you want exam-day practice.
Theory