CVP BASIC EXAM COMPREHENSIVE
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
◉ What are reasons for high cardiac output?
Answer: Tachycardia under 150, pregnancy, early septic shock,
hyperthyroidism, anemia.
◉ How do we control cardiac output?
Answer: Through contractility, rate, afterload, and preload.
◉ How do we measure central venous pressure (CVP)?
Answer: Using a central line or Swan-Ganz catheter.
◉ What does CVP reflect?
Answer: Pressure in the right atrium/superior vena cava and fluid
status.
◉ What is the normal level of CVP?
Answer: 2-6 mmHg.
◉ What does a low CVP indicate?
Answer: Low volume.
, ◉ What does a high CVP indicate?
Answer: Too much volume.
◉ What is the transducer system used for?
Answer: To continuously measure pressure inside the
cardiovascular system.
◉ What does the transducer system include?
Answer: Catheter, pressure tubing, transducer, and monitor.
◉ Why is the phlebostatic axis important?
Answer: It is the reference/zero level for the transducer.
◉ What happens if the transducer is too high?
Answer: The pressure reading will be falsely low.
◉ What happens if the transducer is too low?
Answer: The pressure reading will be falsely high.
◉ How do we measure pulmonary artery wedge pressure
(PAWP)?
Answer: Using a pulmonary artery (Swan-Ganz) catheter.
◉ What does PAWP measure?
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
◉ What are reasons for high cardiac output?
Answer: Tachycardia under 150, pregnancy, early septic shock,
hyperthyroidism, anemia.
◉ How do we control cardiac output?
Answer: Through contractility, rate, afterload, and preload.
◉ How do we measure central venous pressure (CVP)?
Answer: Using a central line or Swan-Ganz catheter.
◉ What does CVP reflect?
Answer: Pressure in the right atrium/superior vena cava and fluid
status.
◉ What is the normal level of CVP?
Answer: 2-6 mmHg.
◉ What does a low CVP indicate?
Answer: Low volume.
, ◉ What does a high CVP indicate?
Answer: Too much volume.
◉ What is the transducer system used for?
Answer: To continuously measure pressure inside the
cardiovascular system.
◉ What does the transducer system include?
Answer: Catheter, pressure tubing, transducer, and monitor.
◉ Why is the phlebostatic axis important?
Answer: It is the reference/zero level for the transducer.
◉ What happens if the transducer is too high?
Answer: The pressure reading will be falsely low.
◉ What happens if the transducer is too low?
Answer: The pressure reading will be falsely high.
◉ How do we measure pulmonary artery wedge pressure
(PAWP)?
Answer: Using a pulmonary artery (Swan-Ganz) catheter.
◉ What does PAWP measure?
