BKAT CRITICAL CARE ACTUAL EXAM 2026
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS
⩥ Normal Pulmonary Artery Occlusion Pressure (PAOP). Answer: 6-12
mmHg
⩥ Normal Pulmonary Artery Systolic (PAS). Answer: 20-30 mmHg
⩥ Normal Pulmonary Artery Diastolic (PAD). Answer: 5-15 mmHg
⩥ Normal Pulmonary Artery Mean (PAM). Answer: 11-20 mmHg
⩥ Normal Systemic Vascular Resistance (SVR). Answer: 800-1200
dynes/sec/cm-5
⩥ Preload. Answer: Volume left in the left ventricles at the end of
diastole
⩥ Afterload. Answer: Amount of pressure the heart has to overcome to
pump blood out
,⩥ What is preload affected by?. Answer: venous return to the heart,
atrial kick, total volume, and ventricular compliance
aka volume return
⩥ What drugs can affect preload?. Answer: Furosemide and
nitroglycerin
⩥ What drugs may affect afterload?. Answer: Vasoconstricters and
vasodilators
⩥ Contractility. Answer: The contractile force of the heart, how much
will it take to move the preload out against the afterload
⩥ What is the appropriate hold time after pulling an a-line?. Answer: 5-
10 min
⩥ What part of the heart does the PAOP affect?. Answer: Left ventricle
⩥ What part of the heart does the CVP affect?. Answer: Right ventricle
⩥ What does it mean when the PAOP is elevated?. Answer: Increased
left ventricular end diastolic pressure that could be indicative of left
ventricular dysfunction or failure
, ⩥ What does it mean if CVP is elevated?. Answer: Fluid overload or
decreased compliance (aka ARDS and COPD)
⩥ Stable Angina. Answer: Stable angina: pain happens with certain
activities but then goes away with rest.
⩥ Unstable Angina. Answer: Unstable angina: chest pain can occur at
rest, becomes more sever or frequent, or lasts longer
⩥ EKG changes with an acute MI. Answer: ST elevation or depression
⩥ EKG changes with hyperkalemia. Answer: Peaked T waves
⩥ What conditions may cause elevated cardiac enzymes?. Answer:
Trauma, acute MI, CABG, and pericarditis
⩥ What is the goal of treatment with cardiogenic shock?. Answer: To
increase cardiac output
⩥ What are the effects of nitroprusside (Nipride) and dobutamine
(Dobutrex) on preload, afterload, and contractility?. Answer: They both
increase cardiac output, HR, and contractility
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS
⩥ Normal Pulmonary Artery Occlusion Pressure (PAOP). Answer: 6-12
mmHg
⩥ Normal Pulmonary Artery Systolic (PAS). Answer: 20-30 mmHg
⩥ Normal Pulmonary Artery Diastolic (PAD). Answer: 5-15 mmHg
⩥ Normal Pulmonary Artery Mean (PAM). Answer: 11-20 mmHg
⩥ Normal Systemic Vascular Resistance (SVR). Answer: 800-1200
dynes/sec/cm-5
⩥ Preload. Answer: Volume left in the left ventricles at the end of
diastole
⩥ Afterload. Answer: Amount of pressure the heart has to overcome to
pump blood out
,⩥ What is preload affected by?. Answer: venous return to the heart,
atrial kick, total volume, and ventricular compliance
aka volume return
⩥ What drugs can affect preload?. Answer: Furosemide and
nitroglycerin
⩥ What drugs may affect afterload?. Answer: Vasoconstricters and
vasodilators
⩥ Contractility. Answer: The contractile force of the heart, how much
will it take to move the preload out against the afterload
⩥ What is the appropriate hold time after pulling an a-line?. Answer: 5-
10 min
⩥ What part of the heart does the PAOP affect?. Answer: Left ventricle
⩥ What part of the heart does the CVP affect?. Answer: Right ventricle
⩥ What does it mean when the PAOP is elevated?. Answer: Increased
left ventricular end diastolic pressure that could be indicative of left
ventricular dysfunction or failure
, ⩥ What does it mean if CVP is elevated?. Answer: Fluid overload or
decreased compliance (aka ARDS and COPD)
⩥ Stable Angina. Answer: Stable angina: pain happens with certain
activities but then goes away with rest.
⩥ Unstable Angina. Answer: Unstable angina: chest pain can occur at
rest, becomes more sever or frequent, or lasts longer
⩥ EKG changes with an acute MI. Answer: ST elevation or depression
⩥ EKG changes with hyperkalemia. Answer: Peaked T waves
⩥ What conditions may cause elevated cardiac enzymes?. Answer:
Trauma, acute MI, CABG, and pericarditis
⩥ What is the goal of treatment with cardiogenic shock?. Answer: To
increase cardiac output
⩥ What are the effects of nitroprusside (Nipride) and dobutamine
(Dobutrex) on preload, afterload, and contractility?. Answer: They both
increase cardiac output, HR, and contractility
