Hall Cardiac Exam Questions and Correct
Answers Updated
Question 1
Calculate the cardiac output from the following data: patient weight 70kg,
hemoglobin concentration 10mg/dL, arterial blood gases on 100% O2: Pao2 450
mmHg, Paco2 32 mmHg, pH 7.46, Sao2 99%. Mixed venous blood gases are: Pvo2
30mmHg, Paco2 45mmHg, pH 7.32, Svo2 60%.
A.1.5L/min
B.2.5L/min
C.3.5L/min
D.4.5L/min
Correct Answer
D.
Question 2
Which of the following would be the best intraoperative transesophageal
echocardiograph (TEE) view to monitor for myocardial ischemia?
A.Mid-esophageal four chamber view
B.Transgastric mid-papillary left ventricular short axis view
C.Mid-esophageal long axis view
D.Mid-esophageal two chamber view
Correct Answer
B.
Page 1 of 19
,Question 3
A 63-year-old patient with a DDD-R pacemaker is scheduled for right hemicolectomy.
The indication for pacemaker implantation was sick sinus syndrome, and the
pacemaker has been reprogrammed to the asynchronous (DOO) mode at a rate of 70
for surgery. After induction, the patient's native heart rate rises to 85 beats/min with
blood pressure 130/90mmHg. Which of the following actions would be MOST
appropriate?
A.Turn off pacemaker for duration of case
B.Administer lidocaine
C.Administer esmolol
D.Observe
Correct Answer
C.
Question 4
A 65-year-old female patient with sepsis is undergoing an emergency exploratory
laparotomy. After induction of anesthesia and tracheal intubation, the patient's blood
pressure is noted to be 65 systolic with a heart rate of 120 beats/min. Cardiac output
determined by a thermodilution PA catheter is 13 L/min. Of the following
vasopressors the LEAST appropriate choice would be
A.Dobutamine
B.Vasopressin
C.Norepinephrine
D.Phenylephrine
Correct Answer
A.
The etiology of hypotension can be placed into two broad categories: decreased
cardiac output and decreased systemic vascular resistance, or both. In this case,
cardiac output is greater than normal, as one often sees in early sepsis. Treatment of
this hypotension should be carried out with pharmacologic agents with strong α-
agonist properties. Because dobutamine is predominantly a β1 agonist, it would be
an extremely poor choice for a patient with a high cardiac output in the face of a
low systemic vascular resistance
Page 2 of 19
, Question 5
Which of the following terms refers to myocardial relaxation or diastole?
A.Inotropy
B.Chronotropy
C.Dromotropy
D.Lusitropy
Correct Answer
D.
Question 6
A 65-year-old patient with moderate aortic stenosis develops a sudden increase in
heart rate during an appendectomy under general anesthesia. The ventricular rate is
190 beats/min and is irregularly irregular, arterial blood pressure is 70/45 mmHg, and
there is 2-mmST segment depression in lead V5 of the ECG. Which of the following
would be the MOST appropriate treatment for myocardial ischemia in this patient?
A.Electrical cardioversion
B.Esmolol
C.Phenylephrine
D.Verapamil
Correct Answer
A.
Question 7
The MOST important pathophysiologic difference between pericardial effusion and
cardiac tamponade is
A.Type of fluid (e.g., transudate, exudate, blood)
B.Quantity of fluid
C.Pressure
D.Inflammation
Correct Answer
C.
Page 3 of 19
Answers Updated
Question 1
Calculate the cardiac output from the following data: patient weight 70kg,
hemoglobin concentration 10mg/dL, arterial blood gases on 100% O2: Pao2 450
mmHg, Paco2 32 mmHg, pH 7.46, Sao2 99%. Mixed venous blood gases are: Pvo2
30mmHg, Paco2 45mmHg, pH 7.32, Svo2 60%.
A.1.5L/min
B.2.5L/min
C.3.5L/min
D.4.5L/min
Correct Answer
D.
Question 2
Which of the following would be the best intraoperative transesophageal
echocardiograph (TEE) view to monitor for myocardial ischemia?
A.Mid-esophageal four chamber view
B.Transgastric mid-papillary left ventricular short axis view
C.Mid-esophageal long axis view
D.Mid-esophageal two chamber view
Correct Answer
B.
Page 1 of 19
,Question 3
A 63-year-old patient with a DDD-R pacemaker is scheduled for right hemicolectomy.
The indication for pacemaker implantation was sick sinus syndrome, and the
pacemaker has been reprogrammed to the asynchronous (DOO) mode at a rate of 70
for surgery. After induction, the patient's native heart rate rises to 85 beats/min with
blood pressure 130/90mmHg. Which of the following actions would be MOST
appropriate?
A.Turn off pacemaker for duration of case
B.Administer lidocaine
C.Administer esmolol
D.Observe
Correct Answer
C.
Question 4
A 65-year-old female patient with sepsis is undergoing an emergency exploratory
laparotomy. After induction of anesthesia and tracheal intubation, the patient's blood
pressure is noted to be 65 systolic with a heart rate of 120 beats/min. Cardiac output
determined by a thermodilution PA catheter is 13 L/min. Of the following
vasopressors the LEAST appropriate choice would be
A.Dobutamine
B.Vasopressin
C.Norepinephrine
D.Phenylephrine
Correct Answer
A.
The etiology of hypotension can be placed into two broad categories: decreased
cardiac output and decreased systemic vascular resistance, or both. In this case,
cardiac output is greater than normal, as one often sees in early sepsis. Treatment of
this hypotension should be carried out with pharmacologic agents with strong α-
agonist properties. Because dobutamine is predominantly a β1 agonist, it would be
an extremely poor choice for a patient with a high cardiac output in the face of a
low systemic vascular resistance
Page 2 of 19
, Question 5
Which of the following terms refers to myocardial relaxation or diastole?
A.Inotropy
B.Chronotropy
C.Dromotropy
D.Lusitropy
Correct Answer
D.
Question 6
A 65-year-old patient with moderate aortic stenosis develops a sudden increase in
heart rate during an appendectomy under general anesthesia. The ventricular rate is
190 beats/min and is irregularly irregular, arterial blood pressure is 70/45 mmHg, and
there is 2-mmST segment depression in lead V5 of the ECG. Which of the following
would be the MOST appropriate treatment for myocardial ischemia in this patient?
A.Electrical cardioversion
B.Esmolol
C.Phenylephrine
D.Verapamil
Correct Answer
A.
Question 7
The MOST important pathophysiologic difference between pericardial effusion and
cardiac tamponade is
A.Type of fluid (e.g., transudate, exudate, blood)
B.Quantity of fluid
C.Pressure
D.Inflammation
Correct Answer
C.
Page 3 of 19
