RRT-ACCS case studies
RRT-ACCS · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The Registered Respiratory Therapist – Adult Critical Care Specialist (RRT-ACCS) is a specialty credential offered by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC), which lists the Adult Critical Care Specialist credential alongside its entry-level and other specialty credentials. It is designed for respiratory therapists who practice with critically ill adult patients - intensive care units, high-acuity step-down units, and emergency or transport settings - and who want to demonstrate knowledge beyond entry-level practice. The RRT-ACCS case studies are 5 cases and about 4,474 words.
1Post-CABG Patient with Rising Plateau Pressure and Shock
Your 68-year-old male patient is post-op day 2 from a three-vessel CABG. IBW 66 kg, current weight 78 kg.
874 words, about 4 min2Extubation Readiness in a Patient with Delirium and Copious Secretions
L is a 54-year-old man on day 9 of mechanical ventilation for severe community-acquired pneumonia. He is afebrile, WBC 11.2, PaO2/FiO2 280 on FiO2 0.40/PEEP 5 cmH2O, and his chest radiograph has substantially cleared.
851 words, about 4 min3Status Asthmaticus with Dynamic Hyperinflation and Hypotension
A 24-year-old with acute severe asthma was intubated in the emergency department 90 minutes ago after failing noninvasive ventilation. Volume control: tidal volume 500 mL, rate 14, PEEP 8 cmH2O, FiO2 0.50, inspiratory flow 60 L/min, square waveform.
826 words, about 4 min4Severe ARDS: Which Knob Actually Improves Outcome
A 58-year-old woman with ARDS from aspiration pneumonia is on day 3 of mechanical ventilation. Volume control, 6 mL/kg IBW (IBW 60 kg, tidal volume 360 mL), PEEP 14 cmH2O, FiO2 0.70, rate 24, SpO2 88–90%, plateau 32 cmH2O, total PEEP 15 cmH2O, driving pressure 17 cmH2O.
879 words, about 4 min5Four Unplanned Extubations in Eight Weeks: Quality Review or Blame?
You are the respiratory therapy clinical lead in a 24-bed medical ICU. In the last 8 weeks there have been four unplanned extubations.
1,044 words, about 5 min