Status Asthmaticus/Acute Severe Asthma MCQ Quiz | Emergencies

1. A “silent chest” in a patient with acute severe asthma indicates:

2. Which of the following is the most appropriate first-line treatment for a patient presenting with acute severe asthma in the emergency department?

3. A normal or rising PaCO2 level on an arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis in a patient with severe asthma is an ominous sign of:

4. A Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) of what percentage of predicted or personal best typically indicates a severe asthma exacerbation?

5. What is the primary mechanism of action of ipratropium bromide in the treatment of acute asthma?

6. Systemic corticosteroids are a cornerstone of therapy in status asthmaticus. What is their main role?

7. Pulsus paradoxus is a physical sign associated with severe asthma. It is defined as:

8. The use of intravenous magnesium sulfate is typically reserved for which group of patients with acute severe asthma?

9. Which of the following is an absolute indication for mechanical ventilation in a patient with status asthmaticus?

10. The target oxygen saturation (SpO2) for most adult patients during an acute severe asthma attack is:

11. A 25-year-old patient with known asthma presents with severe dyspnea, cyanosis, and confusion. Which of the following findings would classify this as a life-threatening attack?

12. What is the rationale for the “permissive hypercapnia” strategy during mechanical ventilation for status asthmaticus?

13. Which of the following is NOT a typical side effect of high-dose nebulized salbutamol?

14. The use of intravenous aminophylline in status asthmaticus is limited due to its narrow therapeutic index and significant side effects. It is considered only when:

15. What is the role of antibiotics in the routine management of acute severe asthma?

16. Which of the following conditions can mimic acute severe asthma and should be considered in the differential diagnosis?

17. A patient with severe asthma suddenly deteriorates with hypotension, unilateral decreased breath sounds, and tracheal deviation. The most likely diagnosis is:

18. The role of Non-Invasive Ventilation (NIV) like BiPAP in acute severe asthma is:

19. Ketamine is sometimes used in refractory status asthmaticus, especially in intubated patients. Its primary benefit is believed to be:

20. Which of the following is a key criterion for safely discharging a patient from the emergency department after an acute asthma attack?

21. In the initial phase of a severe asthma attack, what are the typical ABG findings?

22. Which finding on a chest X-ray is most commonly seen in a patient with acute severe asthma?

23. During mechanical ventilation for asthma, dynamic hyperinflation (‘auto-PEEP’) is a major concern. The primary ventilation strategy to minimize this is:

24. In assessing a patient with acute asthma, the use of accessory muscles of respiration (e.g., sternocleidomastoid) is a sign of:

25. What is the primary reason for adding an anticholinergic (ipratropium) to a beta-agonist (salbutamol) in the initial management of severe asthma?