Certified Respiratory Therapist Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the Certified Respiratory Therapist Exam with our engaging quiz, complete with multiple-choice questions and detailed explanations. Boost your confidence and knowledge before test day!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

To estimate the metabolic rate of a patient receiving mechanical ventilation, which method is recommended?

Oximetry
Capnography
Arterial Blood Gas Analysis
Pulmonary Function Test

The correct answer is: Capnography

Capnography is recommended for estimating the metabolic rate of a patient receiving mechanical ventilation because it measures the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in exhaled breath. The amount of CO2 produced is directly related to the patient’s metabolic activity, allowing healthcare providers to estimate the metabolic rate effectively. This method provides real-time data that reflects changes in ventilation, metabolism, and the balance of CO2 production and elimination. Oximetry primarily measures oxygen saturation levels but does not provide direct information regarding metabolism or CO2 production, making it less suitable for this purpose. Arterial blood gas analysis can provide insights into oxygenation and acid-base status, but it is more focused on the respiratory function rather than direct metabolic rate assessment. Pulmonary function tests are designed to evaluate lung mechanics and capacity but do not provide metabolic rate estimations. Hence, capnography emerges as the most appropriate and informative technique in this scenario.