VENTRICULAR ASSIST DEVICE VAD C
PRACTICE EXAM 2026 TOP PREDICTED
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
◉ What are four key factors in the rehabilitation of patients with
VADs? Answer: Suckdown Events; Systemic HTN/Increased
Afterload (Power Spike); Pump Thrombus/Clot (Power Spike);
Arrhythmias (Slide 28)
◉ This is a critical situation in which the LV collapses and prevents
VAD pump from filling resulting in a decrease or complete loss of
CO? Answer: Suckdown Event (Slide 29)
◉ Reasons for this critical situation include VAD speed too high,
impaired fluid balance, poor venous return, arrhythmias,
hypovolemia from possible GI bleed? Answer: Suckdown Event
(Slide 29)
◉ This critical situation involves a high Doppler BP, light-
headedness/Dizziness, decreased exercise tolerance, decreased CO?
Answer: Systemic HTN: Increased Afterload (Slide 30)
, ◉ What are the consequences on the VAD of systemic HTN:
Increased afterload? Answer: Increased Pump Power->Decreased
Flow—> Increased PI (Slide 30)
◉ This critical situation can be caused by insufficient
anticoagulation, atrial fibrillation, pump speed is TOO HIGH, low
flows from LOW pump speed or RHF, and/or hypercoagulable states
(sepsis, infection)? Answer: Thrombus (Slide 31)
◉ Signs and symptoms of this critical situation include hematuria,
decrease in Hgb/Hct, Increased LDH (lactate dehydrogenase), +
grinding VAD sound on auscultation? Answer: Thrombus (Slide 31)
◉ Consequences of a thrombus on the VAD will be? Answer:
Increased pump power—>Decreased pump flow (Slide 31)
◉ If your patient shows signs of a thrombus what should you do?
Answer: Hold therapy and refer to attended physician (Slide 31)
◉ Signs and symptoms of this critical situation are light-
headedness/dizziness, decreased exercise tolerance and possible
ICD defibrillator firing? Answer: Arrhythmias (Slide 32)
PRACTICE EXAM 2026 TOP PREDICTED
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
◉ What are four key factors in the rehabilitation of patients with
VADs? Answer: Suckdown Events; Systemic HTN/Increased
Afterload (Power Spike); Pump Thrombus/Clot (Power Spike);
Arrhythmias (Slide 28)
◉ This is a critical situation in which the LV collapses and prevents
VAD pump from filling resulting in a decrease or complete loss of
CO? Answer: Suckdown Event (Slide 29)
◉ Reasons for this critical situation include VAD speed too high,
impaired fluid balance, poor venous return, arrhythmias,
hypovolemia from possible GI bleed? Answer: Suckdown Event
(Slide 29)
◉ This critical situation involves a high Doppler BP, light-
headedness/Dizziness, decreased exercise tolerance, decreased CO?
Answer: Systemic HTN: Increased Afterload (Slide 30)
, ◉ What are the consequences on the VAD of systemic HTN:
Increased afterload? Answer: Increased Pump Power->Decreased
Flow—> Increased PI (Slide 30)
◉ This critical situation can be caused by insufficient
anticoagulation, atrial fibrillation, pump speed is TOO HIGH, low
flows from LOW pump speed or RHF, and/or hypercoagulable states
(sepsis, infection)? Answer: Thrombus (Slide 31)
◉ Signs and symptoms of this critical situation include hematuria,
decrease in Hgb/Hct, Increased LDH (lactate dehydrogenase), +
grinding VAD sound on auscultation? Answer: Thrombus (Slide 31)
◉ Consequences of a thrombus on the VAD will be? Answer:
Increased pump power—>Decreased pump flow (Slide 31)
◉ If your patient shows signs of a thrombus what should you do?
Answer: Hold therapy and refer to attended physician (Slide 31)
◉ Signs and symptoms of this critical situation are light-
headedness/dizziness, decreased exercise tolerance and possible
ICD defibrillator firing? Answer: Arrhythmias (Slide 32)
