,QUESTION 1
What is the formula for calculating cardiac output?
a. CO = PA – 1SVC
b. CO = AO × PA
c. CO = HR × SV
d. CO = MAP ÷ SVR
Rationale:
Cardiac output (CO) is the amount of blood pumped by the heart per minute and is calculated as:
CO = Heart Rate × Stroke Volume.
QUESTION 2
Stroke volume is ________?
a. Related to preload
b. Related to afterload
c. The same as ejection fraction
Correct Answer: a. Related to preload
Rationale:
Stroke volume is strongly determined by preload, which represents ventricular filling. Although afterload
and contractility contribute, preload is the most direct influence.
QUESTION 3
Preload is most impacted by:
a. Mean arterial pressure
b. Increased filling volumes
c. Ejection fraction
Rationale:
Preload increases with greater venous return and ventricular filling volumes, which stretch myocardial
fibers prior to contraction.
,QUESTION 4
A patient with chronic untreated hypertension would demonstrate:
a. Increased afterload
b. Decreased afterload
c. Decreased preload
Rationale:
Hypertension increases systemic vascular resistance, which increases the force the left ventricle must
overcome—this is afterload.
QUESTION 5
Vascular resistance/pressure is most influenced by:
a. Blood viscosity
b. BMI
c. Length of the vessel
d. Radius of the vessel
Rationale:
According to Poiseuille’s Law, vessel radius has the greatest effect on resistance. Even slight changes in
diameter dramatically alter blood flow.
QUESTION 1
The formula for blood pressure is:
a. BP = SV × SVR
b. BP = CO × SVR
c. BP = HR × SVR
Rationale:
Blood pressure is determined by cardiac output (CO) and systemic vascular resistance (SVR).
The correct formula is: BP = CO × SVR.
QUESTION 2
What component of a Pulmonary Capillary Wedge Pressure (PCWP) waveform indicates mitral
insufficiency?
a. A wave
b. C wave
c. P wave
d. V wave
, Rationale:
A prominent V wave on a PCWP tracing is strongly associated with mitral regurgitation, due to increased
left atrial pressure during systole.
QUESTION 3
An elevated RVEDP (Right Ventricular End-Diastolic Pressure) is found in which pathology?
a. LV infarct
b. Aortic stenosis
c. RV infarct
d. Mitral regurgitation
Rationale:
An RV infarction impairs the right ventricle’s ability to fill properly, resulting in increased RVEDP.
QUESTION 4
If the RA waveform is 2× the normal value, where would this be demonstrated on physical assessment?
a. Decreased exercise tolerance
b. Decreased O₂ saturation
c. Increased O₂ saturation
d. JVD (Jugular Venous Distention)
Rationale:
Elevated right atrial pressure directly causes jugular venous distension, a hallmark sign of elevated
central venous pressure.
QUESTION 5
What is the most common cause of pulmonic stenosis?
a. Aging
b. Congenital
c. Cardiomyopathy
d. Mitral regurgitation
Rationale:
Pulmonic stenosis is almost always congenital and rarely occurs due to acquired conditions.
QUESTION 1
The blue proximal port of the Swan-Ganz catheter is located how far from the distal tip?
What is the formula for calculating cardiac output?
a. CO = PA – 1SVC
b. CO = AO × PA
c. CO = HR × SV
d. CO = MAP ÷ SVR
Rationale:
Cardiac output (CO) is the amount of blood pumped by the heart per minute and is calculated as:
CO = Heart Rate × Stroke Volume.
QUESTION 2
Stroke volume is ________?
a. Related to preload
b. Related to afterload
c. The same as ejection fraction
Correct Answer: a. Related to preload
Rationale:
Stroke volume is strongly determined by preload, which represents ventricular filling. Although afterload
and contractility contribute, preload is the most direct influence.
QUESTION 3
Preload is most impacted by:
a. Mean arterial pressure
b. Increased filling volumes
c. Ejection fraction
Rationale:
Preload increases with greater venous return and ventricular filling volumes, which stretch myocardial
fibers prior to contraction.
,QUESTION 4
A patient with chronic untreated hypertension would demonstrate:
a. Increased afterload
b. Decreased afterload
c. Decreased preload
Rationale:
Hypertension increases systemic vascular resistance, which increases the force the left ventricle must
overcome—this is afterload.
QUESTION 5
Vascular resistance/pressure is most influenced by:
a. Blood viscosity
b. BMI
c. Length of the vessel
d. Radius of the vessel
Rationale:
According to Poiseuille’s Law, vessel radius has the greatest effect on resistance. Even slight changes in
diameter dramatically alter blood flow.
QUESTION 1
The formula for blood pressure is:
a. BP = SV × SVR
b. BP = CO × SVR
c. BP = HR × SVR
Rationale:
Blood pressure is determined by cardiac output (CO) and systemic vascular resistance (SVR).
The correct formula is: BP = CO × SVR.
QUESTION 2
What component of a Pulmonary Capillary Wedge Pressure (PCWP) waveform indicates mitral
insufficiency?
a. A wave
b. C wave
c. P wave
d. V wave
, Rationale:
A prominent V wave on a PCWP tracing is strongly associated with mitral regurgitation, due to increased
left atrial pressure during systole.
QUESTION 3
An elevated RVEDP (Right Ventricular End-Diastolic Pressure) is found in which pathology?
a. LV infarct
b. Aortic stenosis
c. RV infarct
d. Mitral regurgitation
Rationale:
An RV infarction impairs the right ventricle’s ability to fill properly, resulting in increased RVEDP.
QUESTION 4
If the RA waveform is 2× the normal value, where would this be demonstrated on physical assessment?
a. Decreased exercise tolerance
b. Decreased O₂ saturation
c. Increased O₂ saturation
d. JVD (Jugular Venous Distention)
Rationale:
Elevated right atrial pressure directly causes jugular venous distension, a hallmark sign of elevated
central venous pressure.
QUESTION 5
What is the most common cause of pulmonic stenosis?
a. Aging
b. Congenital
c. Cardiomyopathy
d. Mitral regurgitation
Rationale:
Pulmonic stenosis is almost always congenital and rarely occurs due to acquired conditions.
QUESTION 1
The blue proximal port of the Swan-Ganz catheter is located how far from the distal tip?
