VENTRICULAR ASSIST DEVICES: ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT CONSIDERATIONS (BLS) VENTRICULAR ASSIST DEVICE (VAD-C) FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE 2025/2026 | COMPLETE QUESTIONS | VERIFIED ANSWERS | 100% CORRECT | GRADED A+| PASS GUARANTEED

VENTRICULAR ASSIST DEVICES: ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT CONSIDERATIONS (BLS) VENTRICULAR ASSIST DEVICE (VAD-C) FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE 2025/2026 | COMPLETE QUESTIONS | VERIFIED ANSWERS | 100% CORRECT | GRADED A+| PASS GUARANTEED When it comes to non-mechanical causes for VAD alarms, VADs are dependent on: A. hypovolemia B. administering nitrates C. the VAD hospital coordinator D. preloads - ANSWER️preloads When troubleshooting VAD power problems, what should you NOT bring to the hospital? A. batteries B. external controller C. AC power supply D. charging unit - ANSWER️charging unit If the power to a VAD has been interrupted for an extended period of time, blood may have had time to stagnate in the device, and restarting the pump could result in: A. thromboembolism B. tachycardia C. superior vena cava D. brachycardia - ANSWER️thromboembolism The two broad classifications of ventricular assist devices are: A. direct flow and pulsatile B. right and left ventricular assist devices C. centrifugal and impeller-driven D. air-powered and electric - ANSWER️direct flow and pulsatile Implantation of a ventricular assist device in a patient who is neither on a heart transplant list nor recovering from heart surgery is known as: A. bridge therapy B. destination therapy C. palliative care D. Bi VAD therapy - ANSWER️destination therapy Your VAD patient called you because he had a persistent alarm on his external controller. Upon arrival, you find that he is pale and weak, and complains of fever, increased fatigue, and weakness over the past several days. His external controller alarm reads "LOW FLOW, HIGH RPM." The most likely cause of this alarm is: A. VAD malfunction B. The patient is likely hypo-perfusing, and the flow rate through the VAD fell to below 2.5 liters per minute C. blockage of the aorta D. the VAD graft has ruptured, and blood is leaking into the thoracic cavity - ANSWER️the patient is likely hypo-perfusing, and the flow rate through the VAD fell to below 2.5 liters per minute Your VAD patient is unconscious and apneic, with pale, cool skin. You cannot detect a pulse or obtain a blood pressure. Your first step should be to: - ANSWER️A. Begin chest compressions B. auscultate over the VAD implantation site to see if it is running - Correct Answer C. Obtain vascular access and bolus the patient with IV fluids D. Call the VAD Coordinator at the hospital for instructions Your 54-year-old patient has a VAD following a heart attack that severely damaged his left ventricle. He is otherwise healthy and is on a heart transplant list. He is awake and alert with pink skin, but complaining of weakness. While assessing him, you note that you cannot obtain a blood pressure or pulse, nor does your pulse oximeter display a plethysmography waveform. From these assessment findings, you can infer that: - ANSWER️A. He is hypo-perfusing B. He has a Bi-VAD C. His VAD has stopped running D. He has a direct-flow, rather than pulsatile, VAD - Correct Answer Your patient is a 60-year-old male with an LVAD. He takes warfarin and lisinopril. He complains of weakness and severe fatigue, and states he has been passing black, tarry stools for the past 48 hours. Of the following, which is NOT a reliable indirect measure of this patient's perfusion? - ANSWER️A. Color of mucous membranes B. Waveform capnography and etCO2 readings C. Urinary output D. Presence, rate, and character of radial pulse - Correct Answer E. Level of consciousness Your VAD patient complains of weakness, orthostatic dizziness, and fever for 36 hours. He called thirty minutes ago when he got a low flow alarm on his external controller. The monitor reveals sinus tachycardia with a left bundle branch block at 140 bpm, and his etCO2 is 28 mmHg. His mucous membranes are pale, and capillary refill is four seconds. He is breathing 24 times per minute. He denies vomiting or diarrhea. The most likely cause of his symptoms is: - ANSWER️A. pulmonary embolus B. sepsis secondary to driveline infection - Correct Answer C. arrhythmia D. occult gastrointestinal bleeding You are the crew chief of a rural BLS ambulance squad and are responding to the home of an LVAD patient in your community. When you arrive, your crew finds the patient unconscious on the couch, with ineffective respirations, no pulse, and pale, cyanotic skin. You direct your ambulance crew to do all of the following EXCEPT: - ANSWER️A. Attach the AED and analyze the heart rhythm, delivering shocks if indicated B. auscultate the chest to see if an audible hum can be heard C. begin chest compressions - Correct Answer D. administer high-flow oxygen via BVM The part protruding from the VAD patient's lower chest or upper abdomen is known as the: - ANSWER️A. external controller B. driveline - Correct Answer C. precordial lead D. impelle