BKAT Critical Care Review Questions & Answers

BKAT Critical Care Review Questions &
Answers
Normal Central Venous Pressure (CVP) range - ANSWER2-8 mmHg

AnswerNormal Pulmonary Artery Occlusion Pressure (PAOP) range - ANSWER6-12
mmHg

AnswerNormal Pulmonary Artery Systolic (PAS) range - ANSWER20-30 mmHg

AnswerNormal Pulmonary Artery Diastolic (PAD) range - ANSWER5-15 mmHg

AnswerNormal Pulmonary Artery Mean (PAM) - ANSWER11-20 mmHg

AnswerNormal Systemic Vascular Resistance (SVR) range - ANSWER800-1200
mmHg

AnswerPreload - ANSWERvolume left in the left ventricle at the end of diastole

AnswerWhat is preload affected by? - ANSWERvenous return to the heart, atrial kick,
total volume, and ventricular compliance

AnswerWhat drugs can affect preload? - ANSWERFurosemide and nitroglycerin

AnswerAfterload - ANSWERAmount of pressure heart has to overcome to pump blood
out

AnswerWhat drugs may affect afterload? - ANSWERVasoconstricters and vasodilators

AnswerContractility - ANSWERthe contractile force of the heart, how much will it take
to move the preload out against the afterload

AnswerWhat is the appropriate hold time after pulling an arterial line? - ANSWER5-10
min

AnswerWhat part of the heart does the PAOP affect? - ANSWERLeft ventricle

AnswerWhat part of the heart does the CVP affect? - ANSWERRight ventricle

AnswerWhat does it mean when the PAOP is elevated? - ANSWERIncreased left
ventricular end diastolic pressure that could be indicative of left ventricular dysfunction
or failure

, AnswerWhat does it mean if CVP is elevated? - ANSWERFluid overload or decreased
compliance (such as with ARDS and COPD)

AnswerDifference between stable and unstable angina - ANSWERStable angina: pain
happens with certain activities but then goes away with rest.
Unstable angina: chest pain can occur at rest, becomes more sever or frequent, or lasts
longer

AnswerECG changes with an acute MI? - ANSWERST elevation or depression

AnswerECG changes with hyperkalemia - ANSWERPeaked T waves

AnswerWhat conditions may cause elevated cardiac enzymes? - ANSWERTrauma,
acute MI, CABG, and pericarditis

AnswerWhat is the goal of treatment with cariogenic shock? - ANSWERto increase
cardiac output

AnswerWhat are the effects of nitroprusside (Nipride) and dobutamine (Dobutrex) on
preload, afterload, and contractility? - ANSWERThey both increase cardiac output,
heart rate, and contractility

AnswerSpecial precautions of Nipride - ANSWERIt can cause severe hypotension and
cyanide toxicity

AnswerWhere to listen to assess with a murmur associated with aortic stenosis -
ANSWERright upper sternal border

AnswerWhat is the most important thing to watch for when administering tPa? -
ANSWERmental status changes

AnswerAnti-clotting medications - ANSWERAspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), ticagrelor
(Brilinta), warfarin (Coumadin), heparin, apixaban (Eliquis), and enoxaparin (Lovenox)

AnswerHeart rate controlling medications - ANSWERBeta blockers (-lol), calcium
channel blockers (-ipine), Digoxin

AnswerHeart rhythm controlling medications - ANSWERNa+ channel blockers
(lidocaine) and K+ channel blockers (amiodarone)

AnswerR on T phenomenon - ANSWERWhen pacing, a strong ventricular stimulus
occurring on top of the T wave that can initiate a sustained ventricular tachyarrythmia

AnswerNormal PR interval - ANSWER0.12-0.20 seconds