Respiratory distress syndrome Quiz: Ace Your Exams

Get ready to dominate your medical and nursing exams by using our dynamic quizzes to elevate your knowledge and increase your confidence. Whether you're gearing up for the USMLE®, COMLEX®, or your next in-class assessment, Osmosis quizzes tackle key topics in pathology, diagnostics, and treatment approaches. By honing in on clinical readiness and decision-making, we make sure the knowledge you gain empowers you both in the classroom and in real-world practice. Jump in and supercharge your exam prep!

Learning videos

Flashcards

Expert reviewed

Spaced Repetition

Mobile app

Custom Quizzes

1 of 8

A 67-year-old man with a history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and hepatitis C cirrhosis is transferred to the intensive care unit due to hypoxemic respiratory failure. The patient was initially admitted for management of a right middle lobe pneumonia, but today the patient was noted to have altered mental status and tachypnea. His temperature is 38°C (100.4°F), pulse is 108/min, respirations are 26/min, blood pressure is 100/94 mmHg, and oxygen saturation is 85% on room air. Physical examination shows a man in moderate respiratory distress with evidence of accessory muscle use. Auscultation reveals bilateral rales throughout the lung fields. The patient is subsequently intubated and sedated for airway protection. Follow up chest x-ray, laboratory results, and cardiovascular studies are demonstrated below:  

A chest X-ray shows diffuse, bilateral pulmonary opacities, consistent with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Several medical tubes are present.
Reproduced from: Wikipedia
 
Laboratory value  Result 
CBC, Serum 
Hemoglobin  12.5  g/dL 
 Hematocrit  37.5% 
 Leukocyte count  17,100 /mm3 
 Platelet count  123,000/mm3 
Blood Gases, Serum 
pH  7.50 
 PCO2  25 mmHg 
 PO2  54 mm Hg 
 FiO2  100% 
Transthoracic Echocardiography 
Ejection fraction 62%; No valvular regurgitation or other structural abnormalities noted 
 Which of the following best describes the most likely pathophysiology of this acute disease process?  

Elimination tool

Choose an option: