Certified Clinical Transplant Nurse (CCTN) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The assessment performed within two hours of lung donor allocation is the FiO2 challenge. This specific evaluation is crucial in determining the donor's lung function and oxygenation capability. During an FiO2 challenge, the amount of oxygen delivered can be adjusted to assess how well the lungs can participate in gas exchange. By providing supplemental oxygen at various fractions, healthcare providers can quickly gauge the donor lungs' responsiveness and viability for transplantation.

Assessing the oxygen saturations at varying FiO2 levels helps in predicting the donor's ability to maintain adequate oxygenation post-transplant. This is essential for assessing whether the lungs will function well after being transplanted, as immediate post-operative outcomes largely depend on the donor lung's condition.

In contrast, while a chest x-ray, blood gas analysis, and CT angiography can all provide important information regarding lung morphology and function, they are not as timely or specific in assessing the immediate viability of the lungs in the context of donor allocation as the FiO2 challenge. Understanding lung function promptly after allocation can significantly impact the decision-making process regarding the use of the donor lungs for transplantation.