AACN CSC -CARDIAC SURGERY CERTIFICATION
|ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS|BRAND NEW 2026-2027
UPDATE|GRADED A+
Question 1
The nurse is caring for a patient, one-hour post-TAVR, with a history of severe aortic
stenosis. The patient develops severe hypotension, ST elevation in leads I, aVL, V5-6, and
reciprocal ST depression in leads III and aVF. This is a complication related to
A) aortic annulus rupture.
B) cardiac perforation.
C) stent occlusion of the left main.
D) cardiac tamponade.
CORRECT ANSWER
C) stent occlusion of the left main
Potential adverse events associated with the TAVR procedure may occur and should be
avoided, recognized, and managed adequately. Access and delivery complications are
related to the approach and include peripheral arterial injury (arterial dissection and
perforation) and apical access issues (lung injury, pneumothorax, pleural bleeding,
pseudoaneurysm).
The TAVR procedure may also be complicated by improper transcatheter heart valve
positioning, transcatheter heart valve embolization, need for a second valve, coronary
obstruction (especially of the Left main ostium), mitral valve injury, aortic annulus rupture,
aortic dissection, cardiac tamponade, and cardiac perforation.
Question 2
1
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,The nurse caring for a patient, two hours post-TAVR, with a history of severe aortic
stenosis. The patient is experiencing right flank pain, numbness and tingling in the right
foot and the nurse notes diminished pedal pulses compared to the previous assessment.
Which complication is the nurse MOST concerned for?
Question 3
A) deep vein thrombosis
B) low cardiac output syndrome
C) retroperitoneal hemorrhage
D) limb ischemia
CORRECT ANSWER
C) retroperitoneal hemorrhage
Retroperitoneal hemorrhage is a life-threatening complication related to vascular injury
during the procedure, but may not be present until after the sheath has been removed and
the patient has been transferred to the unit.
Question 4
When caring for a patient following mechanical aortic valve surgery, the nurse recognizes
the MOST IMPORTANT teaching point for the patient is
Question 5
A) the chance of having a re-operation will occur in the next 10 years.
B) have blood drawn regularly to monitor platelet count while on blood thinners.
C) close monitoring of the patient's PT/INR.
D) consuming a diet containing double the amount of Vitamin K rich foods.
2
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, CORRECT ANSWER
C) close monitoring of PT/INR
mechanical valves are associated with a higher risk of thrombosis and peripheral emboli
ation, including stroke. These patients require close monitoring of PT/INR to regulate their
warfarin dose.
Question 6
Four hours post-TAVR, the patient is noted to have left-sided facial droop and severe left-
sided weakness. The MOST appropriate intervention would be
Question 7
A) to prepare the patient for a carotid ultrasound.
B) perform an NIHSS exam.
C) increase frequency of the neurological exams to every 15 minutes.
D) to notify the provider and prepare the patient for a CT scan.
CORRECT ANSWER
D) to notify the provider and prepare the patient for a CT scan.
Patients were received TVR procedures are also at high risk for stroke due to embolization of
vegetation or plaque from the native valve.
Question 8
Four hours following off pump CABG, the nurse notes muffled heart tones on auscultation,
a decrease in BP with inspiration and abrupt cessation of chest tube drainage. Data are:
3
@https://www.stuvia.com/user/thestudyvault
|ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS|BRAND NEW 2026-2027
UPDATE|GRADED A+
Question 1
The nurse is caring for a patient, one-hour post-TAVR, with a history of severe aortic
stenosis. The patient develops severe hypotension, ST elevation in leads I, aVL, V5-6, and
reciprocal ST depression in leads III and aVF. This is a complication related to
A) aortic annulus rupture.
B) cardiac perforation.
C) stent occlusion of the left main.
D) cardiac tamponade.
CORRECT ANSWER
C) stent occlusion of the left main
Potential adverse events associated with the TAVR procedure may occur and should be
avoided, recognized, and managed adequately. Access and delivery complications are
related to the approach and include peripheral arterial injury (arterial dissection and
perforation) and apical access issues (lung injury, pneumothorax, pleural bleeding,
pseudoaneurysm).
The TAVR procedure may also be complicated by improper transcatheter heart valve
positioning, transcatheter heart valve embolization, need for a second valve, coronary
obstruction (especially of the Left main ostium), mitral valve injury, aortic annulus rupture,
aortic dissection, cardiac tamponade, and cardiac perforation.
Question 2
1
@https://www.stuvia.com/user/thestudyvault
,The nurse caring for a patient, two hours post-TAVR, with a history of severe aortic
stenosis. The patient is experiencing right flank pain, numbness and tingling in the right
foot and the nurse notes diminished pedal pulses compared to the previous assessment.
Which complication is the nurse MOST concerned for?
Question 3
A) deep vein thrombosis
B) low cardiac output syndrome
C) retroperitoneal hemorrhage
D) limb ischemia
CORRECT ANSWER
C) retroperitoneal hemorrhage
Retroperitoneal hemorrhage is a life-threatening complication related to vascular injury
during the procedure, but may not be present until after the sheath has been removed and
the patient has been transferred to the unit.
Question 4
When caring for a patient following mechanical aortic valve surgery, the nurse recognizes
the MOST IMPORTANT teaching point for the patient is
Question 5
A) the chance of having a re-operation will occur in the next 10 years.
B) have blood drawn regularly to monitor platelet count while on blood thinners.
C) close monitoring of the patient's PT/INR.
D) consuming a diet containing double the amount of Vitamin K rich foods.
2
@https://www.stuvia.com/user/thestudyvault
, CORRECT ANSWER
C) close monitoring of PT/INR
mechanical valves are associated with a higher risk of thrombosis and peripheral emboli
ation, including stroke. These patients require close monitoring of PT/INR to regulate their
warfarin dose.
Question 6
Four hours post-TAVR, the patient is noted to have left-sided facial droop and severe left-
sided weakness. The MOST appropriate intervention would be
Question 7
A) to prepare the patient for a carotid ultrasound.
B) perform an NIHSS exam.
C) increase frequency of the neurological exams to every 15 minutes.
D) to notify the provider and prepare the patient for a CT scan.
CORRECT ANSWER
D) to notify the provider and prepare the patient for a CT scan.
Patients were received TVR procedures are also at high risk for stroke due to embolization of
vegetation or plaque from the native valve.
Question 8
Four hours following off pump CABG, the nurse notes muffled heart tones on auscultation,
a decrease in BP with inspiration and abrupt cessation of chest tube drainage. Data are:
3
@https://www.stuvia.com/user/thestudyvault
