Exam 38: Humidity and Bland Aerosol Therapy

Clinical indications for delivering cool humidified gas include which of the following? 1) Postextubation edema 2) Upper airway inflammation 3) Croup (laryngotracheal bronchitis) 4) Epiglottitis

After administering a 30-min bland water aerosol treatment to a dehydrated elderly patient with chronic bronchitis, you note increased wheezing and a general decrease in the intensity of breath sounds. Which of the following has probably occurred?

Which of the following is false about a simple heated humidifier (one that does not incorporate a servo-control mechanism)?

Characteristics of a servo-controlled heated humidifier include which of the following? 1) Monitors heater temperature. 2) Adjusts heater power automatically. 3) Provides automatic heater shutdown. 4) Includes temperature safety alarms.

Which of the following are true about humidification and contact time? 1) The longer a gas is exposed to water, the greater is the amount of evaporation. 2) The rate of gas flow through a humidifier determines contact time. 3) Low flows decrease and high flows increase relative humidity output. 4) Bubble humidifier contact time depends on the water column depth.

How often would you recommend that a home care patient disinfect a home ultrasonic room humidifier?

Which of the following are true regarding a membrane-type humidifier? 1) Water and gas are separated by a hydrophobic membrane. 2) The membrane is permeable to water vapor but not to liquid water. 3) As with other passover humidifiers, there is no bubbling action. 4) A small layer of liquid water remains on both sides of the membrane.

The risk of overhydration with continuous delivery of bland water aerosols is greatest among which patient group? 1) Patients with fluid or electrolyte imbalances 2) Patients with fever and infection 3) Infants and small children

A design that increases surface area and enhances evaporation by incorporating an absorbent material partially submerged in a water reservoir that is surrounded by a heating element best describes what type of humidifier?

Which of the following are clinical signs and symptoms of inadequate airway humidification? 1) Atelectasis 2) Dry cough 3) Increased airway resistance 4) Increased incidence of infection 5) Increased work of breathing

Heat and moisture exchangers (HMEs) are mainly used to do what?

When checking a patient attached to a servo-controlled heated-wire humidifier breathing circuit, you notice no visible condensate anywhere in the tubing. Based on this observation, you can conclude that the relative humidity of the delivered gas is which of the following?

Which of the following is false about the isothermic saturation boundary (ISB)?

The amount of condensation occurring in a heated, humidified gas delivery system depends on which of the following? 1) Length, diameter, and mass of the circuit 2) Temperature differential along the circuit 3) Ambient temperature 4) Rate of gas flow through the circuit

Indications for warming inspired gases include which of the following? 1) Treating a patient whose airways are reactive to cold 2) Providing humidification when the upper airway is bypassed 3) Treating a patient with a low body temperature (hypothermia) 4) Reducing upper airway inflammation or swelling

What is the typical water vapor output of an unheated bubble humidifier?

Which of the following is false about heated humidifier condensate?

When checking an O₂ delivery system that incorporates a bubble humidifier running at 6 L/min, you occlude the delivery tubing, and the humidifier pressure relief immediately pops off. What does this indicate?

A heat and moisture exchanger has an efficiency rating of 80%. What does this mean?

Which of the following principles is used by the ultrasonic nebulizer to produce aerosol droplets?