Question 1

Which of the following pharmacologic agents will be useful in treatment of a patient who presents with symptoms of fatigue, shortness of breath, swelling of legs, rapid weight gain over several days, and signs of fluid overload?

Accepted Answer

A) Anti-diuretics, beta agonist, antihypertensives 
B) Beta-blockers, lipid lowering agents, anticoagulants 
C) Diuretics, ACE inhibitors, digoxin, beta-blockers 
D) Diuretics, antianginals, heparin

Question 2

The nurse receives the blood test reports of a patient who was admitted to hospital with complaints of chest pain. The report shows an elevated level of CK-MB. What does this report signify?

Accepted Answer

A) Damage to myocardium 
B) Damage to intercostals muscles 
C) Liver damage 
D) None

Question 3

Which of the following statements is not true regarding cardiac arrhythmias?

Accepted Answer

A) Arrhythmias can cause a slow, rapid, or irregular heartbeat 
B) Ventricular arrhythmias are never life-threatening 
C) Supraventricular arrhythmias originate in the atria 
D) Sick sinus syndrome can cause an arrhythmia

Question 4

Which of the following sets of conditions may lead to intermittent claudication?

Accepted Answer

A) Blood clots, varicose veins, thrombophlebitis 
B) Raynaud's disease, thrombophlebitis, compartment syndrome 
C) Deep vein thrombosis, vasculitis, injury to limbs 
D) Peripheral arterial disease, blood clots, abnormal anatomy of muscle/ligaments

Question 5

A patient who has mitral stenosis complains of dizziness, light headedness, and palpitations. The nurse record an EKG which shows an absence of P waves and an irregular R-R interval. Which of these drugs may be used in the treatment of this patient?

Accepted Answer

A) Beta agonist, clopidogrel, nitrates 
B) Beta agonist, nitrates, nicorandil 
C) Beta blockers, clopidogrel, ranolazine 
D) Beta blockers, warfarin, digitalis

Question 6

What are the contraindications of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the lower extremity?

Accepted Answer

A) Hypertensive patients who have poor ventricular function 
B) Dyslipidemia 
C) Patients who are medically unstable or have diabetes, an arterial occlusion that has been present for a long time, poor distal run off 
D) Status post coronary angioplasty

Question 7

Which of the following cardiac arrhythmias is most serious and needs immediate medical attention and emergency treatment to prevent sudden death?

Accepted Answer

A) Atrial flutter 
B) Atrial fibrillation 
C) Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome 
D) Ventricular fibrillation

Question 8

A patient complains of palpitations. The nurse records an EKG which shows varying and /or absent P waves, a varying R-R interval, fibrillatory waves, and a ventricular rate of 140/minute. What are the goals of treatment for this patient?

Accepted Answer

A) Controlling heart rate and ventricular response, restoring sinus rhythm, preventing complications such as thromboembolism 
B) Controlling heart rate and ventricular rate, improving cardiac output 
C) Controlling heart rate and ventricular rate, improving perfusion to vital organs 
D) Controlling heart rate and ventricular rate, preventing end organ damage

Question 9

Consider a patient who is unaware of the cardiac condition he is suffering from. You note splinter hemorrhages under his finger nails. What is this clinical sign indicative of?

Accepted Answer

A) Cardiac tamponade 
B) Endocarditis 
C) Primary hypertension 
D) Coronary artery disease

Question 10

What are the long-term complications associated with cardiac transplantation?

Accepted Answer

A) Hyperlipidemia, hypertension, valvular heart disease, renal failure 
B) Infection, rejection, thromboembolic disease 
C) Rejection, infection, hepatic damage 
D) Transplant coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, hypertension,

Question 11

Which of the following mechanisms are not associated with development of cor pulmonale?

Accepted Answer

A) Pulmonary vasoconstriction 
B) Pulmonary plethora 
C) Primary pulmonary hypertension 
D) Increased blood viscosity

Question 12

Which of the following descriptions is correct according to the 5-position code of pacemakers?

Accepted Answer

A) Position one (I) - chambers being sensed, Position two (II) - chambers being paced, Position three (III) - device's response to sensing, Position four (IV) - programmability and rate of modulation function, Position five (V) - only for tachycardia functions 
B) Position one (I) - chambers being paced, Position two (II) - chambers being sensed, Position three (III) - device's response to sensing, Position four (IV) - programmability and rate of modulation function, Position five (V) - only for tachycardia functions 
C) Position one (I) - chambers being paced, Position two (II) - chambers being sensed, Position three (III) - device's response to sensing, Position four (IV) - for defibrillation function, Position five (V) - only for rate modulation 
D) Position one (I) - chambers being paced, Position two (II) - chambers being sensed, Position three (III) - device's response to sensing, Position four (IV) - programmability and rate of modulation function, Position five (V) - for defibrillation function

Question 13

Which of the following pharmacological agents are used for treatment of atherosclerotic disease?

Accepted Answer

A) Statins, , aspirin, clopidogrel 
B) Beta-blockers, aspirin, warfarin 
C) Calcium channel blockers, warfarin, clopidogrel 
D) Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, statins, aspirin

Question 14

Which of the following methods of stress reduction uses repetitive verbal phases and concentrating on sensation for deep relaxation?

Accepted Answer

A) Meditation 
B) Imagery 
C) Autogenic training 
D) Cognitive restructuring

Question 15

What is the mechanism of action of phosphodiesterase inhibitors?

Accepted Answer

A) Increases sodium level within myocardial cells 
B) Increases calcium level within myocardial cells 
C) Increases sodium efflux from myocardial cells 
D) Increases potassium influx within myocardial cells

Question 16

Which of the following is TRUE of right sided heart failure?

Accepted Answer

A) Isolated right heart failure is common. 
B) Typically occurs independent of left heart failure. 
C) Can be a sequelae of cor pulmonale. 
D) Typical symptoms include rales and cardiac enlargement.

Question 17

Which of the following drugs are vasodilators?

Accepted Answer

A) Beta-blockers, nitrates, calcium channel blockers 
B) Beta-blockers, sympathomimetic drugs, diuretics 
C) Beta-agonists, cardiac glycosides, steroids 
D) Beta agonists, adrenaline, isoproterenol

Question 18

A young male presents with palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, and diaphoresis. His EKG shows a delta wave. Which other diagnostic tools are helpful in confirming the diagnosis of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome?

Accepted Answer

A) Holter monitor, event recorder, electrophysiological testing 
B) Cardiac catheterization, CT angiography, echocardiography 
C) Holter monitor, radionuclide study, echocardiography 
D) Event recorder, echocardiography, thallium scan

Question 19

How many positions have been included in generic pacemaker code?

Accepted Answer

A) 1 
B) 3 
C) 5 
D) 7

Question 20

What are the adverse effects associated with phosphodiesterase inhibitors?

Accepted Answer

A) Bone marrow depression, hemolysis, increase in serum creatinine 
B) Bleeding, heart block, renal dysfunction 
C) Dysrhythmia, thrombocytopenia, bone marrow toxicity 
D) Cardiac arrhythmia, polycythemia

Exam 2: Problems