Study for the Respiratory Therapy Test. Use flashcards and multiple choice questions, featuring hints and explanations. Prepare for your exam successfully!

Multiple Choice

Total Cycle Time (TCT) is computed as which of the following?

Total Cycle Time is the duration of one complete breath cycle, measured in seconds. Because RR is the number of breaths per minute, the time for one breath is 60 seconds per minute divided by the breaths per minute. So the correct formula is TCT = 60 / RR. For example, if RR is 12 breaths per minute, TCT is 5 seconds per breath. Using RR/60 would give breaths per second (a rate), not time per breath. Multiplying 60 by RR would produce an unreasonably large number of seconds per cycle, and assigning TCT to RR would mix a time unit with a rate unit.

Total Cycle Time is the duration of one complete breath cycle, measured in seconds. Because RR is the number of breaths per minute, the time for one breath is 60 seconds per minute divided by the breaths per minute. So the correct formula is TCT = 60 / RR. For example, if RR is 12 breaths per minute, TCT is 5 seconds per breath. Using RR/60 would give breaths per second (a rate), not time per breath. Multiplying 60 by RR would produce an unreasonably large number of seconds per cycle, and assigning TCT to RR would mix a time unit with a rate unit.