Certified Respiratory Therapist Practice Exam

If a bag-valve resuscitator fills rapidly but collapses on minimal pressure, what could likely be the issue?

1. A missing or jammed inlet valve

2. An occluded airway

3. A malfunctioning oxygen source

4. A torn reservoir bag

The correct answer is: A missing or jammed inlet valve

The scenario where a bag-valve resuscitator fills rapidly but collapses with minimal pressure suggests that air is able to enter the bag efficiently, but something is preventing it from maintaining pressure when squeezed. A missing or jammed inlet valve is a likely issue in this case. The inlet valve, which is responsible for controlling the intake of air into the bag, if compromised, would allow the bag to inflate easily but would fail to function properly when pressure is applied. This means that when you squeeze the bag, instead of maintaining a seal and providing positive pressure ventilation, the bag can’t hold that pressure, causing it to collapse. In contrast, while an occluded airway could be a concern, it typically wouldn’t affect the ability of the bag to fill; instead, the bag might still be effective without issues of collapse upon compression in that specific scenario. A malfunctioning oxygen source would not directly cause the collapsibility of the bag itself but could lead to an inadequate oxygen delivery. Lastly, a torn reservoir bag would lead to a rapid loss of the collected air, but it wouldn't necessarily fill rapidly under normal conditions. Thus, the condition of the inlet valve is crucial for maintaining the bag's functionality during resuscitation, making it the most fitting