USMLE® Step 2 CK · chapter RESP

Pulmonary & Respiratory: USMLE® Step 2 CK topics

24 topics. Each one opens a review page with its guideline basis and key clinical sections, then links the QuestionBank questions, ChartWalk flowchart, FlashCards and ImageBank plates that share its code.

1. Acute respiratory failure — NIV vs intubation

   RESP-ARF-0115 questions · Review Book p. 251 · 2017 ERS/ATS NIV Guidelines; 2015 FLORALI Trial (HFNC)

2. Approach to acute and chronic dyspnea

   RESP-DYSP-011 questions · Review Book p. 237 · 2019 ESC Acute PE Guidelines; 2011 ATS/STR PE in Pregnancy; 2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA HF; 2021 ASCO Dyspnea in Advanced Cancer

3. ARDS — Berlin criteria and ventilator management

   RESP-ARDS-0140 questions · Review Book p. 256 · 2012 Berlin ARDS Definition; 2000 ARDSNet ARMA Trial; 2024 ATS ARDS Guideline

4. Arterial blood gas & acid-base interpretation

   RESP-ABG-0115 questions · Review Book p. 233 · 2014 NEJM Acid-Base Physiology Review; 2015 EXTRIP Salicylate Workgroup Recommendations

5. Asthma diagnosis and GINA stepwise management

   RESP-ASTHMA-0173 questions · Review Book p. 239 · 2026 GINA Global Strategy; NAEPP severity table labeled separately

6. Bronchiectasis — diagnosis and chronic management

   RESP-BRONCHIECT-018 questions · Review Book p. 275 · 2017 European Respiratory Society Bronchiectasis Guideline

7. Bronchiolitis (RSV) management in infants

   RESP-BRO-014 questions · Review Book p. 248 · 2014 AAP Bronchiolitis Guideline (reaffirmed 2022); ACIP/AAP Nirsevimab Recommendations

8. COPD diagnosis, GOLD management and exacerbation

   RESP-COPD-0132 questions · Review Book p. 241 · 2026 GOLD COPD Report

9. Cystic fibrosis diagnosis and management

   RESP-CF-0129 questions · Review Book p. 273 · Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Clinical Care Guidelines

10. Hemoptysis and diffuse alveolar hemorrhage

    RESP-HEMO-019 questions · Review Book p. 263 · ACR Appropriateness Criteria: Hemoptysis; 2024 KDIGO Clinical Practice Guideline for ANCA-Associated Vasculitis; ACR/VF 2021 and EULAR 2022 vasculitis guidelines

11. Interstitial lung disease and sarcoidosis

    RESP-ILD-0133 questions · Review Book p. 267 · 2020 ATS Sarcoidosis Diagnosis Guideline; 2021 ERS Sarcoidosis Treatment Guideline; 2022 ATS/ERS/JRS/ALAT IPF/progressive pulmonary fibrosis Guideline

12. Mechanical ventilation — modes, settings and PEEP

    RESP-VENT-014 questions · Review Book p. 253 · ARDSNet Protocol; ATS/ESICM/SCCM Mechanical Ventilation in ARDS 2017; ATS ARDS Clinical Practice Guideline 2024

13. Obstructive sleep apnea diagnosis and management

    RESP-OSA-0116 questions · Review Book p. 271 · 2019 AASM positive airway pressure (PAP) Treatment Guideline; 2017 AASM Diagnostic Testing Guideline; ASA 2014 OSA Perioperative Practice Guidelines; SASM 2016/2018; ATS 2019 obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) Guideline

14. Occupational and environmental lung disease

    RESP-OCC-0133 questions · Review Book p. 270 · ATS/JRS/ALAT Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis Guideline 2020; 2021 CHEST Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis Guideline; Wilderness Medical Society Altitude Illness Guidelines 2024

15. Pediatric upper airway infections and foreign body

    RESP-PEDAIR-0124 questions · Review Book p. 249

16. Pleural effusion and Light’s criteria

    RESP-PLEFF-0125 questions · Review Book p. 258 · 2023 BTS Pleural Disease Guidelines

17. Pneumonia — empiric therapy and severity scoring

    RESP-PNA-0240 questions · Review Book p. 244 · 2019 IDSA/ATS CAP Guidelines

18. Pneumonia — organism patterns and diagnosis

    RESP-PNA-0115 questions · Review Book p. 243 · 2019 IDSA/ATS CAP Guidelines

19. Pneumothorax — spontaneous, tension and chest tube

    RESP-PTX-0136 questions · Review Book p. 260 · 2023 BTS Pleural Disease Guidelines; 2025 ACS Advanced Trauma Life Support (11th Ed.)

20. Pulmonary embolism — diagnostic algorithm and massive PE

    RESP-PE-0146 questions · Review Book p. 261 · 2019 ESC Acute PE Guidelines; 2021 CHEST Antithrombotic Therapy for VTE Update; 2026 AHA/ACC/ACCP/ACEP/CHEST/SCAI/SHM/SIR/SVM/SVN Acute Pulmonary Embolism

21. Pulmonary function tests — obstructive vs restrictive pattern

    RESP-PFT-016 questions · Review Book p. 235 · 2019 ATS/ERS Spirometry; 2022 ERS/ATS PFT Interpretation

22. Solitary nodule, lung cancer and paraneoplastic syndromes

    RESP-ONC-0133 questions · Review Book p. 265 · 2021 USPSTF Lung Cancer Screening; 2017 Fleischner Society SPN Guidelines

23. Tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment

    RESP-TB-0124 questions · Review Book p. 246 · 2025 ATS/CDC/ERS/IDSA TB Treatment Update; 2016 ATS/CDC/IDSA TB Treatment Guidelines; 2022 CDC rifapentine-moxifloxacin guidance; 2020 NTCA/CDC LTBI Guidelines

24. Ventilator troubleshooting, weaning and complications

    RESP-VENT-0224 questions · Review Book p. 255 · 2017 ATS/ACCP Liberation from Mechanical Ventilation Guidelines; SCCM Liberation Bundle

Written and clinically reviewed by TheCodexes.com (editorial policy). Guideline citations are the primary sources each topic follows.