An adult patient has a pulse of 142, a respiratory rate of 24, and a blood pressure of 78/55 mm Hg.  When examining the patient’s chest, a respiratory therapist notes an absence of breath sounds in the left chest with a hyperresonant percussion note.  Which of the following should the therapist recommend FIRST?

What effect would an upper airway obstruction have on ventilation and perfusion?

Hypotension is sensed by baroreceptors, what response will this have on blood vessels and why?

What changes would be expected with ventilation and perfusion in a patient with excessive blood loss?

Normal physiologic shunts return deoxygenated blood to the left atrium.  Which of the following contribute to normal physiologic shunts?

What is derived from the following formula?       (Hgb x 1.34 x SvO2) + (PvO2 x 0.003)

What is the normal value of hemoglobin?

When a tension pneumothorax, how will cardiac output and blood pressure be affected?

What is the term or acronym for the percentage of red blood cells in relation to total blood volume?

What quantity of oxygen would be transported chemically combined to hemoglobin? Hgb – 12 PaO2 – 63 SaO2 – 90%