8/8/25, 7:51 AM CSC Study Questions
CARDIAC SURGERY CSC certification TEST BANK
QUESTIONS AND ACCURATE DETAILED ANSWERS
\ACTUAL CSC EXAM 2025-2026 \LATEST VERSION
\ALREADY GRADED A+
A postoperative coronary C
artery bypass graft and The AV node and the bundle of His are near the aortic
aortic valve replacement valve. During aortic valve replacement, hemorrhage,
patient has been in a edema, suturing, or debridement near the AV node and
normal sinus rhythm for 4 the bundle of His may cause heart blocks. Pacing is
hours. The monitor is now needed to treat the conduction defect caused by the
showing P waves at a rate of surgery. Atropine (A) and epinephrine (D) will not
73 beats per minute with work because the conduction problem is with the AV
no ventricular response. The node and/or the bundle of His.
best action would be to Transcutaneous (external) pacing (B) would be the
next best option if epicardial wires were not present.
a. Administer atropine 0.5 The heart rate should be greater than 45/min and less
mg intravenous bolus (IV than 80/min.
push)
b. Connect transcutaneous
pacing pads to patient
c. Connect epicardial
pacing wires to a
temporary pacemaker
d. Administer epinephrine 1
mg IV push and start
epinephrine infusion
/ 1/81
,8/8/25, 7:51 AM CSC Study Questions
One hour after D
extubation, a diabetic After extubation, cardiac surgery patients should be
coronary artery bypass assessed for adequate ventilation. Pain medications,
surgery patient is becoming atelectasis, and immobility may lead to hypoventilation.
slightly lethargic. Arterial Hypoventilation is a cause of respiratory acidosis. High
blood gas (ABG) analysis carbon dioxide levels cause lethargy. The patient is in
yielded the following the early phase of respiratory acidosis. Stimulation and
results: pH, 7.33; PaO2, 80 encouragement of incentive spirometry should prevent
mm Hg; PaCO2, 50 mm Hg; further hypoventilation and reintubation. A, B, and C
SaO2, 95%; HCO3, 28 are actions or interventions for metabolic acidosis.
mEq/L;
base excess, 0.5. The nurse
should first
a. Obtain a blood glucose
level
b. Obtain a 12-lead ECG
c. Treat metabolic acidosis
Stimulate patient to breathe
d.
One hour after surgery, a A
coronary artery bypass SvO2 represents the oxygenation at the tissue level.
graft (CABG) patient starts The value reflects the tissue oxygen delivery and
to wake up and the mixed consumption. Four factors influence SvO2 :
venous oxygen saturation hemoglobin, cardiac output, arterial saturation, and
( SvO2) decreases from oxygen consumption. An increase in oxygen
60% to 45%. The change is consumption will extract more oxygen at the tissue
most likely the result of level and decrease the SvO2. Oxygen consumption
which of the following? could be increased by pain, shivering, or exercise. A
A. Increase in oxygen decrease in oxygen consumption will provide more
consumption
B. Increase in hemoglobin
oxygen to the tissue level and increase the SvO2 .
C. Increase in cardiac output Oxygen consumption might be reduced by
D. Increase in arterial saturation hypothermia or anesthesia.
/ 2/81
,8/8/25, 7:51 AM CSC Study Questions
In addition to a decreasing B
BP, which of the following The accumulation of fluid around the heart compresses
assessment findings is the atria, causing elevated right atrial filling pressures.
consistent with cardiac The decreased cardiac output leads to hypoperfusion of
tamponade? the kidney, resulting in a sudden decrease in urine
output or oliguria. The compression of the atria
A. Urine output of 42 to 50 constricts venous return to the heart, leading to a
mL/h decreased cardiac output. The decreased cardiac output
and low hemoglobin level due to the bleeding lead to
B. Central venous pressure
decreased SvO2 .
(CVP) of 11 to 20 mm Hg
C. Cardiac output 4.0 to 5.1
L/min
D. SvO258% to 65%
After CABG, a patient C
weighing 70 kg and Parameters for readiness to wean are negative
receiving mechanical inspiratory pressure (NIP) > −25 cm H2O, RR <25/min,
ventilation has orders to be HR <140/min, minute volume <10 L, VC >10 to 15 mL/kg.
weaned and extubated This patient's RR needs to be <25/min; VC, 700 to 1050
when stable. Which mL/kg; and minute volume, <10 L. Adequate respiratory
parameter indicates the muscle strength is indicated by the ability to sustain a
patient is ready to head lift for at least 5 seconds.
extubate?
A. RR 28/min
B. Vital capacity (VC) 500 mL
C. Able to sustain a head lift
for at least 5 seconds
D. Minute volume 12 L
/ 3/81
, 8/8/25, 7:51 AM CSC Study Questions
Which of the following C
assessment findings is a Criteria for extubation include hemodynamical
contraindication to stability and neurologic and respiratory readiness.
extubation? Chest tube bleeding in excess of 100 mL/h, new
arrhythmias, and labile blood pressure reflect
A. Chest tube bleeding less hemodynamic instability.
than 50 mL/h
B. Chronic atrial fibrillation
C. Labile/fluctuating blood
pressure
D. Minimalvasoactive support
The following B
hemodynamic profile is Hypovolemia is noted by the low stroke volume, low
noted upon admission in a CVP, and low pulmonary artery diastolic pressure,
postoperative CABG cardiac output, and cardiac index. The CVP and
patient: BP, 91/38 mm Hg; pulmonary artery diastolic pressure would be high if
mean arterial pressure the patient needed an intervention to increase
(MAP), 58 mm Hg; HR, contractility.
108/min; core temperature,
36.5°C; pulmonary arterial
pressure (PAP), 20/12 mm
Hg; CVP, 6 mm Hg; SvO2,
59%; cardiac output, 3.6
L/min; cardiac index, 1.8;
systemic vascular
resistance, 1006 dyne ⋅ sec
⋅ cm−5; stroke volume, 33
mL; pulse oximetry (SpO2),
93% saturation; urine and
chest tube output both 100
mL in the past hour; and
hemoglobin level is 10 g/dL.
The nurse should first do
which of the following?
A. Continue with admission
procedure
/ 4/81
CARDIAC SURGERY CSC certification TEST BANK
QUESTIONS AND ACCURATE DETAILED ANSWERS
\ACTUAL CSC EXAM 2025-2026 \LATEST VERSION
\ALREADY GRADED A+
A postoperative coronary C
artery bypass graft and The AV node and the bundle of His are near the aortic
aortic valve replacement valve. During aortic valve replacement, hemorrhage,
patient has been in a edema, suturing, or debridement near the AV node and
normal sinus rhythm for 4 the bundle of His may cause heart blocks. Pacing is
hours. The monitor is now needed to treat the conduction defect caused by the
showing P waves at a rate of surgery. Atropine (A) and epinephrine (D) will not
73 beats per minute with work because the conduction problem is with the AV
no ventricular response. The node and/or the bundle of His.
best action would be to Transcutaneous (external) pacing (B) would be the
next best option if epicardial wires were not present.
a. Administer atropine 0.5 The heart rate should be greater than 45/min and less
mg intravenous bolus (IV than 80/min.
push)
b. Connect transcutaneous
pacing pads to patient
c. Connect epicardial
pacing wires to a
temporary pacemaker
d. Administer epinephrine 1
mg IV push and start
epinephrine infusion
/ 1/81
,8/8/25, 7:51 AM CSC Study Questions
One hour after D
extubation, a diabetic After extubation, cardiac surgery patients should be
coronary artery bypass assessed for adequate ventilation. Pain medications,
surgery patient is becoming atelectasis, and immobility may lead to hypoventilation.
slightly lethargic. Arterial Hypoventilation is a cause of respiratory acidosis. High
blood gas (ABG) analysis carbon dioxide levels cause lethargy. The patient is in
yielded the following the early phase of respiratory acidosis. Stimulation and
results: pH, 7.33; PaO2, 80 encouragement of incentive spirometry should prevent
mm Hg; PaCO2, 50 mm Hg; further hypoventilation and reintubation. A, B, and C
SaO2, 95%; HCO3, 28 are actions or interventions for metabolic acidosis.
mEq/L;
base excess, 0.5. The nurse
should first
a. Obtain a blood glucose
level
b. Obtain a 12-lead ECG
c. Treat metabolic acidosis
Stimulate patient to breathe
d.
One hour after surgery, a A
coronary artery bypass SvO2 represents the oxygenation at the tissue level.
graft (CABG) patient starts The value reflects the tissue oxygen delivery and
to wake up and the mixed consumption. Four factors influence SvO2 :
venous oxygen saturation hemoglobin, cardiac output, arterial saturation, and
( SvO2) decreases from oxygen consumption. An increase in oxygen
60% to 45%. The change is consumption will extract more oxygen at the tissue
most likely the result of level and decrease the SvO2. Oxygen consumption
which of the following? could be increased by pain, shivering, or exercise. A
A. Increase in oxygen decrease in oxygen consumption will provide more
consumption
B. Increase in hemoglobin
oxygen to the tissue level and increase the SvO2 .
C. Increase in cardiac output Oxygen consumption might be reduced by
D. Increase in arterial saturation hypothermia or anesthesia.
/ 2/81
,8/8/25, 7:51 AM CSC Study Questions
In addition to a decreasing B
BP, which of the following The accumulation of fluid around the heart compresses
assessment findings is the atria, causing elevated right atrial filling pressures.
consistent with cardiac The decreased cardiac output leads to hypoperfusion of
tamponade? the kidney, resulting in a sudden decrease in urine
output or oliguria. The compression of the atria
A. Urine output of 42 to 50 constricts venous return to the heart, leading to a
mL/h decreased cardiac output. The decreased cardiac output
and low hemoglobin level due to the bleeding lead to
B. Central venous pressure
decreased SvO2 .
(CVP) of 11 to 20 mm Hg
C. Cardiac output 4.0 to 5.1
L/min
D. SvO258% to 65%
After CABG, a patient C
weighing 70 kg and Parameters for readiness to wean are negative
receiving mechanical inspiratory pressure (NIP) > −25 cm H2O, RR <25/min,
ventilation has orders to be HR <140/min, minute volume <10 L, VC >10 to 15 mL/kg.
weaned and extubated This patient's RR needs to be <25/min; VC, 700 to 1050
when stable. Which mL/kg; and minute volume, <10 L. Adequate respiratory
parameter indicates the muscle strength is indicated by the ability to sustain a
patient is ready to head lift for at least 5 seconds.
extubate?
A. RR 28/min
B. Vital capacity (VC) 500 mL
C. Able to sustain a head lift
for at least 5 seconds
D. Minute volume 12 L
/ 3/81
, 8/8/25, 7:51 AM CSC Study Questions
Which of the following C
assessment findings is a Criteria for extubation include hemodynamical
contraindication to stability and neurologic and respiratory readiness.
extubation? Chest tube bleeding in excess of 100 mL/h, new
arrhythmias, and labile blood pressure reflect
A. Chest tube bleeding less hemodynamic instability.
than 50 mL/h
B. Chronic atrial fibrillation
C. Labile/fluctuating blood
pressure
D. Minimalvasoactive support
The following B
hemodynamic profile is Hypovolemia is noted by the low stroke volume, low
noted upon admission in a CVP, and low pulmonary artery diastolic pressure,
postoperative CABG cardiac output, and cardiac index. The CVP and
patient: BP, 91/38 mm Hg; pulmonary artery diastolic pressure would be high if
mean arterial pressure the patient needed an intervention to increase
(MAP), 58 mm Hg; HR, contractility.
108/min; core temperature,
36.5°C; pulmonary arterial
pressure (PAP), 20/12 mm
Hg; CVP, 6 mm Hg; SvO2,
59%; cardiac output, 3.6
L/min; cardiac index, 1.8;
systemic vascular
resistance, 1006 dyne ⋅ sec
⋅ cm−5; stroke volume, 33
mL; pulse oximetry (SpO2),
93% saturation; urine and
chest tube output both 100
mL in the past hour; and
hemoglobin level is 10 g/dL.
The nurse should first do
which of the following?
A. Continue with admission
procedure
/ 4/81
