Final CCHT Exam| 580 QUESTIONS| WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
An abscess is an infection under the skin. It looks lika blister or pimple filled with fluid or pus. If
needles are inserted into or near an abscess, infection of a dialysis access or other tissues may
occur. Correct Answer: Abscess
An access -vascular access- is a route into the bloodstream that allows enough blood flow for
hemodialysis. For permanent access, a surgeon connects a vein to an artery. Correct Answer:
Access
Correct Answer: This can be done directly - fistula- or with a piece of synthetic tubing - graft.
For short term access, a catheter may be placed in a large central vein.
An acid is substance with a pH below 7.0 that can donate a hydrogen ion -H+. In the human
body, acids form when protein and other foods are broken down by cell metabolism. Correct
Answer: Acid
Correct Answer: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - AIDS
Acute kidney failure has a sudden onset. It is most often caused by an illness, injury, or toxin that
stresses the kidneys. Some patients who survive acute kidney failure can recover kidney
function. Others die or go on to develop chronic kidney failure. Correct Answer: Acute Kidney
Failure
Alum is an aluminum compound. It is often added to city water supplies to remove sediment and
make the water clearer. Correct Answer: Alum
Correct Answer: Aluminum can build up in the bodies and brains of dialysis patients.
Aluminum in dialysis water must be kept at low levels with water treatment.
ARBD is cause by long-term exposure to aluminum. Aluminum builds up in the tissues at the
point where new bone forms and be seen on X-ray. Sources of aluminum include dialysis water,
medications, and cookware. Correct Answer: Aluminum-Related Bone Disease - ARBD
Correct Answer: Phosphate binders with aluminum are also a source, but these are rarely used
today. Symptoms of ARBD can include deep bone pain, muscle weakness, and fractures.
Amyloidosis occurs when aproteingcalled beta-2-microglobulin -B2M- builds up in soft tissues,
bones, and joints. The deposits can cause joint and or bone pain. High-flux membranes and or
noctournal hemodialysis remove more B2M, which may help prevent or treat this problem.
Correct Answer: Amyloidosis
,Anaphylaxis is a fast severe immune response to an allergen. Hives, itching, or wheezing may
occur. Anaphylactic shock may cause blood pressure drop; change in heart rhythms or arrest; and
swelling of the lips, tongue, and throat. This problem can be fatal. Correct Answer: Anaphylaxis
An anastomosis is a surgical connection beteen two blood vessels. Dialysis needles should not be
inserted into the area of the anastomosis in a fistual or graft. Correct Answer: Anastomosis
Adsorb means to attract and hold. The dialyzer membrane adsorbs blood proteins to the walls of
the hollow fibers during a treatment. Correct Answer: Adsorb
Correct Answer: This can make reused dialyzers more biocompatible than new ones - if bleach
is not used to remove the protein coating.
Advance directives outline a patient's wishes for medical treatment in case he or she becomes too
ill to make such choices. A living will is one type of advance directive. Correct Answer:
Advance Directives
Correct Answer: The patient's family and other members of the care team should be told of the
patient's wishes when an advance directive is done and given a copy to keep.
means toward an organ. Correct Answer: Afferent
The air - or foam detector checks blood in the venous line of the extracorporeal circuit for air.
Air in a patient's bloodstream can stop the blood flow or heartbeat, causing death. Correct
Answer: Air Detector
Correct Answer: If the detector finds air, an alarm will sound, the blood pump will stop, and the
venous bloodline will clamp to keep air from reaching the patient.
An air embolism occurs when air bubbles enter the bloodstream and flow into a vessel small
enough to be blocked by the air. The air in the vessel acts like a clot, blocking the flow of blood.
Correct Answer: Air Embolism
Correct Answer: Dialysis machines have an air detector on the venous bloodline to help prevent
this problem, which can be fatal.
Albumin is a blood protein. Lo serum albumin levels -<3.5 g/dL- may mean a patient is
undernourished. Malnutrition is a common in dialysis patients and raises their risk of death.
Correct Answer: Albumin
Anemia is a shortage of oxygen-carrying red blood cells. It causes sever fatigue, trouble with
metal focus, reduced immune function, and many other problems. Correct Answer: Anemia
Correct Answer: Anemia is common in kidney failure due to less erythropoietin, iron
deficiency, and loss of blood through tests and dialysis itself.
,An anesthetic is a drug that numbs the body to reduce pain. Local anesthetics can be injected into
a spot, such as the skin around a puncture site, before needle placement. Or, gels or creams can
be put on the skin to prevent pain at that site. Correct Answer: Anesthetic
An aneurysm is a ballooning or bulging of a weak spot in a blood vessel. Severe bleeding can
occur if an anerurysm ruptures, so great care must be taken with a patient who has one.
Aneurysms can occur if needles are placed too often into the small area of a fistula. Correct
Answer: Aneurysm
Angioplasty is a procedure to open a narrowed blood vessel - stenosis. It may be used for
vascular access repair. A small balloon is threaded through the vessel into the access and gently
inflated to push the walls of the vessel open. Correct Answer: Angioplasty
An anion is a negatively-charged ion. Correct Answer: Anion
Antegrade means forward-moving. In dialysis, it means in the direction of blood flow. The
venous needle should always be placed antegrade. The arterial needle is placed antegrade or
retrograde, though there is some evidenc that antegrade is better. . Correct Answer: Antegrade
An anticoagulant is a blood-thinning drug used to keep clots from forming. Anticoagulants, such
as heperain, are used to prevent clotting in the extracorporeal circuit during hemodialysis.
Correct Answer: Anticoagulant
Antidiuretic hormone - ADH or vasopressin- is released by the pituitary gland in the brain. ADH
helps prevent excess fluid loss by telling healthy kidneys to reabsorb water. ADH also tells the
blood vessels to constrict - tighten. Correct Answer: Antidiuretic Hormone- ADH
The apical pulse is felt on the chest wall over the heart. Correct Answer: Apical Pulse
Apnea is a period when breathing stops. Correct Answer: Apnea
In hemodialysis, arterial pressure is measured in the extracorporeal circuit between the arterial
needle and the dialyzer. Correct Answer: Arterial Pressure
Correct Answer: Pre-pump arterial pressure is measured from the patient's access to the blood
pump. Post-pump arterial pressure is measured after the blood pump, but before the dialyzer.
An arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat. It may be felt as an extra pulse or heard over the heart.
Correct Answer: Arrhythmia
A pressure sensor monitors pre-pump arterial pressure in the extracorporeal circuit between the
patient's access and the blood pump. A post-pump arterial pressure monitor measures pressure
beten the blood pump and the dialyzer. Correct Answer: Arterial pressure Monitor
Correct Answer: If the pressure reading is outside of set limits, an alarm will sound and the
blood pump will stop.
, When a fistual is made, strong arterial blood flow causes the vein to arterialize - it dilates -
widens, thickens and becomes more muscular, like an artery. Correct Answer: Arterialize
In dialysis, an arteriovenous fistula is a link beteen an artery and a vein under the skin of an arm
or leg to provide access to the blood. The force of blood from the artery makes the vein larger
and thicker. Correct Answer: Arteriovenous -AV-Fistula
Correct Answer: After a fistual matures, it can be punctured with dialysis needles and will allo
the blood flow rates needed for dialysis.
An arteriole is a small artery. Correct Answer: Arteriole
A blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart at high pressure. Arteries bring oxygenated
blood to each part of the body. Correct Answer: Artery
Artificial means man-made. The dialyzer is called an artificial kidney. A piece of artificial vein
is used to create a dialysis graft. Correct Answer: Artificial
Ascites is a build - up of fluid inthe abdomen caused by liver damage, heart failure, malnutrition,
or infection. Special ultrafiltration and other methods - i.e. drainage may be needed to remove it.
Correct Answer: Ascites
Asepsis is the absence of pathogens. Correct Answer: Asepsis
Aseptic means sterile or germ-free. Correct Answer: Aseptic
Aseptic technique is a series of steps used to maintain a germ-free environment. The steps
include washing hands before touching things in sterile packages, touching sterile objects only to
other sterile objects, cleaning blood ports or the patient's skin with disinfectant before placing a
needle, Correct Answer: Aseptic technique
Correct Answer: and throwing out any sterile supplies in we, damaged, or torn packages.
Peritoneal dialysis exchanges must be done using aseptic technique to prevent infection.
AAMI develops voluntary standards for dialysis water treatment and dialyzer reprocessing.
TheAAMI guidelines have been adopted by CMS. Correct Answer: Association for the
Advancement of Medical Instrumentation - AAMI
Auscultate means to listen with a stethoscope. Auscultation is used to diagnose access problems
like stenosis or thromboisis that can change the normal sound of the bruit. Correct Answer:
Auscultate
Backfiltration occurs when dialysate crosses the dialyzer membrane into the patient's blood. It
can be caused by a change in the presure or concentration gradient between the dialysate and
blood. Correct Answer: Backfiltration
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
An abscess is an infection under the skin. It looks lika blister or pimple filled with fluid or pus. If
needles are inserted into or near an abscess, infection of a dialysis access or other tissues may
occur. Correct Answer: Abscess
An access -vascular access- is a route into the bloodstream that allows enough blood flow for
hemodialysis. For permanent access, a surgeon connects a vein to an artery. Correct Answer:
Access
Correct Answer: This can be done directly - fistula- or with a piece of synthetic tubing - graft.
For short term access, a catheter may be placed in a large central vein.
An acid is substance with a pH below 7.0 that can donate a hydrogen ion -H+. In the human
body, acids form when protein and other foods are broken down by cell metabolism. Correct
Answer: Acid
Correct Answer: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - AIDS
Acute kidney failure has a sudden onset. It is most often caused by an illness, injury, or toxin that
stresses the kidneys. Some patients who survive acute kidney failure can recover kidney
function. Others die or go on to develop chronic kidney failure. Correct Answer: Acute Kidney
Failure
Alum is an aluminum compound. It is often added to city water supplies to remove sediment and
make the water clearer. Correct Answer: Alum
Correct Answer: Aluminum can build up in the bodies and brains of dialysis patients.
Aluminum in dialysis water must be kept at low levels with water treatment.
ARBD is cause by long-term exposure to aluminum. Aluminum builds up in the tissues at the
point where new bone forms and be seen on X-ray. Sources of aluminum include dialysis water,
medications, and cookware. Correct Answer: Aluminum-Related Bone Disease - ARBD
Correct Answer: Phosphate binders with aluminum are also a source, but these are rarely used
today. Symptoms of ARBD can include deep bone pain, muscle weakness, and fractures.
Amyloidosis occurs when aproteingcalled beta-2-microglobulin -B2M- builds up in soft tissues,
bones, and joints. The deposits can cause joint and or bone pain. High-flux membranes and or
noctournal hemodialysis remove more B2M, which may help prevent or treat this problem.
Correct Answer: Amyloidosis
,Anaphylaxis is a fast severe immune response to an allergen. Hives, itching, or wheezing may
occur. Anaphylactic shock may cause blood pressure drop; change in heart rhythms or arrest; and
swelling of the lips, tongue, and throat. This problem can be fatal. Correct Answer: Anaphylaxis
An anastomosis is a surgical connection beteen two blood vessels. Dialysis needles should not be
inserted into the area of the anastomosis in a fistual or graft. Correct Answer: Anastomosis
Adsorb means to attract and hold. The dialyzer membrane adsorbs blood proteins to the walls of
the hollow fibers during a treatment. Correct Answer: Adsorb
Correct Answer: This can make reused dialyzers more biocompatible than new ones - if bleach
is not used to remove the protein coating.
Advance directives outline a patient's wishes for medical treatment in case he or she becomes too
ill to make such choices. A living will is one type of advance directive. Correct Answer:
Advance Directives
Correct Answer: The patient's family and other members of the care team should be told of the
patient's wishes when an advance directive is done and given a copy to keep.
means toward an organ. Correct Answer: Afferent
The air - or foam detector checks blood in the venous line of the extracorporeal circuit for air.
Air in a patient's bloodstream can stop the blood flow or heartbeat, causing death. Correct
Answer: Air Detector
Correct Answer: If the detector finds air, an alarm will sound, the blood pump will stop, and the
venous bloodline will clamp to keep air from reaching the patient.
An air embolism occurs when air bubbles enter the bloodstream and flow into a vessel small
enough to be blocked by the air. The air in the vessel acts like a clot, blocking the flow of blood.
Correct Answer: Air Embolism
Correct Answer: Dialysis machines have an air detector on the venous bloodline to help prevent
this problem, which can be fatal.
Albumin is a blood protein. Lo serum albumin levels -<3.5 g/dL- may mean a patient is
undernourished. Malnutrition is a common in dialysis patients and raises their risk of death.
Correct Answer: Albumin
Anemia is a shortage of oxygen-carrying red blood cells. It causes sever fatigue, trouble with
metal focus, reduced immune function, and many other problems. Correct Answer: Anemia
Correct Answer: Anemia is common in kidney failure due to less erythropoietin, iron
deficiency, and loss of blood through tests and dialysis itself.
,An anesthetic is a drug that numbs the body to reduce pain. Local anesthetics can be injected into
a spot, such as the skin around a puncture site, before needle placement. Or, gels or creams can
be put on the skin to prevent pain at that site. Correct Answer: Anesthetic
An aneurysm is a ballooning or bulging of a weak spot in a blood vessel. Severe bleeding can
occur if an anerurysm ruptures, so great care must be taken with a patient who has one.
Aneurysms can occur if needles are placed too often into the small area of a fistula. Correct
Answer: Aneurysm
Angioplasty is a procedure to open a narrowed blood vessel - stenosis. It may be used for
vascular access repair. A small balloon is threaded through the vessel into the access and gently
inflated to push the walls of the vessel open. Correct Answer: Angioplasty
An anion is a negatively-charged ion. Correct Answer: Anion
Antegrade means forward-moving. In dialysis, it means in the direction of blood flow. The
venous needle should always be placed antegrade. The arterial needle is placed antegrade or
retrograde, though there is some evidenc that antegrade is better. . Correct Answer: Antegrade
An anticoagulant is a blood-thinning drug used to keep clots from forming. Anticoagulants, such
as heperain, are used to prevent clotting in the extracorporeal circuit during hemodialysis.
Correct Answer: Anticoagulant
Antidiuretic hormone - ADH or vasopressin- is released by the pituitary gland in the brain. ADH
helps prevent excess fluid loss by telling healthy kidneys to reabsorb water. ADH also tells the
blood vessels to constrict - tighten. Correct Answer: Antidiuretic Hormone- ADH
The apical pulse is felt on the chest wall over the heart. Correct Answer: Apical Pulse
Apnea is a period when breathing stops. Correct Answer: Apnea
In hemodialysis, arterial pressure is measured in the extracorporeal circuit between the arterial
needle and the dialyzer. Correct Answer: Arterial Pressure
Correct Answer: Pre-pump arterial pressure is measured from the patient's access to the blood
pump. Post-pump arterial pressure is measured after the blood pump, but before the dialyzer.
An arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat. It may be felt as an extra pulse or heard over the heart.
Correct Answer: Arrhythmia
A pressure sensor monitors pre-pump arterial pressure in the extracorporeal circuit between the
patient's access and the blood pump. A post-pump arterial pressure monitor measures pressure
beten the blood pump and the dialyzer. Correct Answer: Arterial pressure Monitor
Correct Answer: If the pressure reading is outside of set limits, an alarm will sound and the
blood pump will stop.
, When a fistual is made, strong arterial blood flow causes the vein to arterialize - it dilates -
widens, thickens and becomes more muscular, like an artery. Correct Answer: Arterialize
In dialysis, an arteriovenous fistula is a link beteen an artery and a vein under the skin of an arm
or leg to provide access to the blood. The force of blood from the artery makes the vein larger
and thicker. Correct Answer: Arteriovenous -AV-Fistula
Correct Answer: After a fistual matures, it can be punctured with dialysis needles and will allo
the blood flow rates needed for dialysis.
An arteriole is a small artery. Correct Answer: Arteriole
A blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart at high pressure. Arteries bring oxygenated
blood to each part of the body. Correct Answer: Artery
Artificial means man-made. The dialyzer is called an artificial kidney. A piece of artificial vein
is used to create a dialysis graft. Correct Answer: Artificial
Ascites is a build - up of fluid inthe abdomen caused by liver damage, heart failure, malnutrition,
or infection. Special ultrafiltration and other methods - i.e. drainage may be needed to remove it.
Correct Answer: Ascites
Asepsis is the absence of pathogens. Correct Answer: Asepsis
Aseptic means sterile or germ-free. Correct Answer: Aseptic
Aseptic technique is a series of steps used to maintain a germ-free environment. The steps
include washing hands before touching things in sterile packages, touching sterile objects only to
other sterile objects, cleaning blood ports or the patient's skin with disinfectant before placing a
needle, Correct Answer: Aseptic technique
Correct Answer: and throwing out any sterile supplies in we, damaged, or torn packages.
Peritoneal dialysis exchanges must be done using aseptic technique to prevent infection.
AAMI develops voluntary standards for dialysis water treatment and dialyzer reprocessing.
TheAAMI guidelines have been adopted by CMS. Correct Answer: Association for the
Advancement of Medical Instrumentation - AAMI
Auscultate means to listen with a stethoscope. Auscultation is used to diagnose access problems
like stenosis or thromboisis that can change the normal sound of the bruit. Correct Answer:
Auscultate
Backfiltration occurs when dialysate crosses the dialyzer membrane into the patient's blood. It
can be caused by a change in the presure or concentration gradient between the dialysate and
blood. Correct Answer: Backfiltration
