CCRN PEDS Cardiovascular 2022 Questions and
Answers With rationale
1. Your pediatric patient has the following parameters
HR 80
BP 100/60
SV 40
BSA 0.9 m2
The cardiac index (CI) for this patient is
A. 4.4 L/min
B. 3.2 L/min/m2
C. 3.5 L/min/m2
D. 3200 mL/m2
C. The cardiac index for this patient is 3.5.
First, you must calculate the cardiac output (HR X SV) or (80 X 40 =3200 = 3.2 L/min).
Then, use the following equation: (CI = CO/BSA) or (3.2/0.9 = 3.55 L/min/m2)
The CI is a more specific indicator of hemodynamic status than cardiac output. The CO
has a broader range of 4 to 8 L/min. To make a numbers specific to an individual, the
person's body surface area is included in the equation. Then the normal range becomes
2.5-4.0 L/min/m2
2. Calculate the cardiac output for a 16 year old patient with a heart rate of 72 and a
stroke volume of 70 mL
A. 55%
B. 5.04 L/min
C. 504 mL/min
D. 1.02 L/min
B. Normal cardiac output for a 16 year old should be in the range of 4 to 8 L/min. The
formula for calculating this value is CO = HR x SV. In this case, 72 (HR) x 70 (SV) =
5040 mL/min. Converted to liters, the answer would equal 5.04 L/min.
3. What is the mean arterial pressure for a patient with a blood pressure of 110/50 and a
heart rater of 80
A. 80
B. 70
C. 50
D. 60
B. The MAP is a mean pressure that takes into account the fact that the diastolic phase
represents two-thirds of the cardiac cycle. It is calculated as follows: MAP = (2(DBP) +
(SBP))/3. If you took the average of the two pressures only, it would not account for the
importance of the diastolic phase. The HR is not entered into this calculation. Patients
,should maintain a MAP of at least 60 mmHg to ensure adequate perfusion to the brain
and kidneys.
4. Which of the following percentages would be considered a normal value for an
ejection fraction (EF)?
A. 25%
B. 35%
C. 40%
D. 60%
D. The ejection fraction should be over 50%. This is the amount of blood ejected from
the left ventricle compared to the total amount available. This amount is expressed as a
percentage. For example, if the ventricle contains 90 mL of blood and 50 mL is ejected,
the amount would be represented as a percentage--in this case, 55%. An ejection
fraction of 35% or less indicates a problem with contractility, outflow, or filling.
5. The ejection fraction (EF) most closely represents which of the following
hemodynamic parameters
A. RVEDP
B. PAOP
C. RVP
D. LVEDP
D. The ejection fraction (EF) most closely represents left ventricular end-diastolic
pressure (LVEDP). EF and LVEDP are closely related. The LVEDP is the volume of
blood under pressure left after the end of contraction.
6. Tetralogy of Fallot manifests itself by which of the following combinations of defects?
A. VSD, overriding aorta, pulmonary stenosis, and right ventricular hypertrophy
B. Aortic stenosis, atrial septal defect, coarctation of the aorta, and PDA
C. ASD, mitral prolapse, PDA, and pulmonary stenosis
D. Mitral stenosis, PDA, ASD, and coarctation of the aorta
A. Tetraology of Fallot manifests itself by the following combinations of defects: VSD,
overriding aorta, pulmonary stenosis, and right ventricular hypertrophy. This condition
results in low oxygenation of blood due to the mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated
blood in the left ventricle via the VSD and mixing of blood from both ventricles through
the aorta because of the obstruction to flow through the pulmonary valve. The end result
is a left to right shunt. The primary symptom of tetralogy of Fallot is low blood oxygen
saturation, with or without cyanosis, from birth or developing in the first year of life. If the
baby is not cyanotic, then the condition is sometimes referred to as "pink tet." Other
symptoms include a harsh grade II to IV systolic murmur with a thrill, difficulty in feeding,
failure ot gain weight, retarded growth, physical development. Polycythemia may be
present with dyspnea on exertion, along with clubbing of the fingers and toes.
Children with TOF may exhibit "tet spells." The precise mechanism of these episodes is
unknown, but they may result from a transient increase in resistance to blood flow to the
lungs along with increased flow of desaturated blood to the body. Tet spells may be
precipitated by activity and are characterized by paroxysms of hyperpnea, irritability,
, prolonged crying, increasing cyanosis, and decreasing intensity of the heart murmur.
Tet spells may result in hypoxic brain injury and death. Older children may squat during
a tet spell, which cuts off circulation to the legs. The squatting position raises
intrathoracic pressure and systemic vascular resistance, thereby improving blood flow to
the brain and vital organs.
7. Which of the following statements is true about events that occur during a normal
cardiac cycle?
A. Metabolism in the heart is unchanged during diastole
B. Metabolism of the heart is decreased during diastole
C. An increase in cardiac output increases diastole
D. Diastole comprises about 40% of the cardiac cycle
B. Metabolism of the heart is decreased during diastole, which accounts for
approximately half of the cardiac cycle at birth. Shortly after birth, the diastolic phase
lengthens so that it represents two-thirds of the cardiac cycle. An increase in CO
decreases diastole.
8. A reflex tachycardia caused by stretch of right atrial receptros is known as
A. The Herring-Sines law
B. The Bainbridge reflex
C. Starling's law
D. The renin-angiotensin system
B. A reflex tachycardia caused by a stretch of right atrial receptors is known as the
Bainbridge reflex. The Bainbridge reflex is believed to occur to speed up the heart rate if
the right side becomes overloaded and help equalize pressures in both sides.
9. Pressures in the left side of the heart and pulmonary filling pressures are represented
by the
A. PAOP
B. PAD
C. CI
D. SVR
A. Pressures in the left side of the heart and pulmonary filling pressures are represented
by the PAOP. When the balloon of a pulmonary artery catheter is inflated, it eventually
"wedges" in the pulmonary artery. The turbulence behind the balloon is blocked, and it
senses what is in front of it--is the pulmonary vascular bed and left side of the heart.
This pressure was formerly known as pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP). It is
now known as pulmonary artery occlusive pressure (PAOP and is sometimes called
pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP). The normal value should be in the range
of 5-12 mmHg.
10. Your patient required placement of a left atrial pressure monitoring line. The
pressure reads 18 mmHg. This value might indicate
A. Pulmonary embolus
B. Pulmonic stenosis
Answers With rationale
1. Your pediatric patient has the following parameters
HR 80
BP 100/60
SV 40
BSA 0.9 m2
The cardiac index (CI) for this patient is
A. 4.4 L/min
B. 3.2 L/min/m2
C. 3.5 L/min/m2
D. 3200 mL/m2
C. The cardiac index for this patient is 3.5.
First, you must calculate the cardiac output (HR X SV) or (80 X 40 =3200 = 3.2 L/min).
Then, use the following equation: (CI = CO/BSA) or (3.2/0.9 = 3.55 L/min/m2)
The CI is a more specific indicator of hemodynamic status than cardiac output. The CO
has a broader range of 4 to 8 L/min. To make a numbers specific to an individual, the
person's body surface area is included in the equation. Then the normal range becomes
2.5-4.0 L/min/m2
2. Calculate the cardiac output for a 16 year old patient with a heart rate of 72 and a
stroke volume of 70 mL
A. 55%
B. 5.04 L/min
C. 504 mL/min
D. 1.02 L/min
B. Normal cardiac output for a 16 year old should be in the range of 4 to 8 L/min. The
formula for calculating this value is CO = HR x SV. In this case, 72 (HR) x 70 (SV) =
5040 mL/min. Converted to liters, the answer would equal 5.04 L/min.
3. What is the mean arterial pressure for a patient with a blood pressure of 110/50 and a
heart rater of 80
A. 80
B. 70
C. 50
D. 60
B. The MAP is a mean pressure that takes into account the fact that the diastolic phase
represents two-thirds of the cardiac cycle. It is calculated as follows: MAP = (2(DBP) +
(SBP))/3. If you took the average of the two pressures only, it would not account for the
importance of the diastolic phase. The HR is not entered into this calculation. Patients
,should maintain a MAP of at least 60 mmHg to ensure adequate perfusion to the brain
and kidneys.
4. Which of the following percentages would be considered a normal value for an
ejection fraction (EF)?
A. 25%
B. 35%
C. 40%
D. 60%
D. The ejection fraction should be over 50%. This is the amount of blood ejected from
the left ventricle compared to the total amount available. This amount is expressed as a
percentage. For example, if the ventricle contains 90 mL of blood and 50 mL is ejected,
the amount would be represented as a percentage--in this case, 55%. An ejection
fraction of 35% or less indicates a problem with contractility, outflow, or filling.
5. The ejection fraction (EF) most closely represents which of the following
hemodynamic parameters
A. RVEDP
B. PAOP
C. RVP
D. LVEDP
D. The ejection fraction (EF) most closely represents left ventricular end-diastolic
pressure (LVEDP). EF and LVEDP are closely related. The LVEDP is the volume of
blood under pressure left after the end of contraction.
6. Tetralogy of Fallot manifests itself by which of the following combinations of defects?
A. VSD, overriding aorta, pulmonary stenosis, and right ventricular hypertrophy
B. Aortic stenosis, atrial septal defect, coarctation of the aorta, and PDA
C. ASD, mitral prolapse, PDA, and pulmonary stenosis
D. Mitral stenosis, PDA, ASD, and coarctation of the aorta
A. Tetraology of Fallot manifests itself by the following combinations of defects: VSD,
overriding aorta, pulmonary stenosis, and right ventricular hypertrophy. This condition
results in low oxygenation of blood due to the mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated
blood in the left ventricle via the VSD and mixing of blood from both ventricles through
the aorta because of the obstruction to flow through the pulmonary valve. The end result
is a left to right shunt. The primary symptom of tetralogy of Fallot is low blood oxygen
saturation, with or without cyanosis, from birth or developing in the first year of life. If the
baby is not cyanotic, then the condition is sometimes referred to as "pink tet." Other
symptoms include a harsh grade II to IV systolic murmur with a thrill, difficulty in feeding,
failure ot gain weight, retarded growth, physical development. Polycythemia may be
present with dyspnea on exertion, along with clubbing of the fingers and toes.
Children with TOF may exhibit "tet spells." The precise mechanism of these episodes is
unknown, but they may result from a transient increase in resistance to blood flow to the
lungs along with increased flow of desaturated blood to the body. Tet spells may be
precipitated by activity and are characterized by paroxysms of hyperpnea, irritability,
, prolonged crying, increasing cyanosis, and decreasing intensity of the heart murmur.
Tet spells may result in hypoxic brain injury and death. Older children may squat during
a tet spell, which cuts off circulation to the legs. The squatting position raises
intrathoracic pressure and systemic vascular resistance, thereby improving blood flow to
the brain and vital organs.
7. Which of the following statements is true about events that occur during a normal
cardiac cycle?
A. Metabolism in the heart is unchanged during diastole
B. Metabolism of the heart is decreased during diastole
C. An increase in cardiac output increases diastole
D. Diastole comprises about 40% of the cardiac cycle
B. Metabolism of the heart is decreased during diastole, which accounts for
approximately half of the cardiac cycle at birth. Shortly after birth, the diastolic phase
lengthens so that it represents two-thirds of the cardiac cycle. An increase in CO
decreases diastole.
8. A reflex tachycardia caused by stretch of right atrial receptros is known as
A. The Herring-Sines law
B. The Bainbridge reflex
C. Starling's law
D. The renin-angiotensin system
B. A reflex tachycardia caused by a stretch of right atrial receptors is known as the
Bainbridge reflex. The Bainbridge reflex is believed to occur to speed up the heart rate if
the right side becomes overloaded and help equalize pressures in both sides.
9. Pressures in the left side of the heart and pulmonary filling pressures are represented
by the
A. PAOP
B. PAD
C. CI
D. SVR
A. Pressures in the left side of the heart and pulmonary filling pressures are represented
by the PAOP. When the balloon of a pulmonary artery catheter is inflated, it eventually
"wedges" in the pulmonary artery. The turbulence behind the balloon is blocked, and it
senses what is in front of it--is the pulmonary vascular bed and left side of the heart.
This pressure was formerly known as pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP). It is
now known as pulmonary artery occlusive pressure (PAOP and is sometimes called
pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP). The normal value should be in the range
of 5-12 mmHg.
10. Your patient required placement of a left atrial pressure monitoring line. The
pressure reads 18 mmHg. This value might indicate
A. Pulmonary embolus
B. Pulmonic stenosis
