BKAT Critical Care Review
Normal Central Venous Pressure (CVP) range - ANS-2-8 mmHg
Normal Pulmonary Artery Occlusion Pressure (PAOP) range - ANS-6-12 mmHg
Normal Pulmonary Artery Systolic (PAS) range - ANS-20-30 mmHg
Normal Pulmonary Artery Diastolic (PAD) range - ANS-5-15 mmHg
Normal Pulmonary Artery Mean (PAM) - ANS-11-20 mmHg
Normal Systemic Vascular Resistance (SVR) range - ANS-800-1200 mmHg
Preload - ANS-volume left in the left ventricle at the end of diastole
What is preload affected by? - ANS-venous return to the heart, atrial kick, total volume,
and ventricular compliance
What drugs can affect preload? - ANS-Furosemide and nitroglycerin
Afterload - ANS-Amount of pressure heart has to overcome to pump blood out
What drugs may affect afterload? - ANS-Vasoconstricters and vasodilators
Contractility - ANS-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 arterial line? - ANS-5-10 min
What part of the heart does the PAOP affect? - ANS-Left ventricle
What part of the heart does the CVP affect? - ANS-Right ventricle
What does it mean when the PAOP is elevated? - ANS-Increased left ventricular end
diastolic pressure that could be indicative of left ventricular dysfunction or failure
, What does it mean if CVP is elevated? - ANS-Fluid overload or decreased compliance
(such as with ARDS and COPD)
Difference between stable and unstable angina - ANS-Stable angina: pain happens with
certain activities but then goes away with rest.
Unstable angina: chest pain can occur at rest, becomes more sever or frequent, or lasts
longer
ECG changes with an acute MI? - ANS-ST elevation or depression
ECG changes with hyperkalemia - ANS-Peaked T waves
What conditions may cause elevated cardiac enzymes? - ANS-Trauma, acute MI,
CABG, and pericarditis
What is the goal of treatment with cariogenic shock? - ANS-to increase cardiac output
What are the effects of nitroprusside (Nipride) and dobutamine (Dobutrex) on preload,
afterload, and contractility? - ANS-They both increase cardiac output, heart rate, and
contractility
Special precautions of Nipride - ANS-It can cause severe hypotension and cyanide
toxicity
Where to listen to assess with a murmur associated with aortic stenosis - ANS-right
upper sternal border
What is the most important thing to watch for when administering tPa? - ANS-mental
status changes
Anti-clotting medications - ANS-Aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), ticagrelor (Brilinta), warfarin
(Coumadin), heparin, apixaban (Eliquis), and enoxaparin (Lovenox)
Heart rate controlling medications - ANS-Beta blockers (-lol), calcium channel blockers
(-ipine), Digoxin
Heart rhythm controlling medications - ANS-Na+ channel blockers (lidocaine) and K+
channel blockers (amiodarone)
Normal Central Venous Pressure (CVP) range - ANS-2-8 mmHg
Normal Pulmonary Artery Occlusion Pressure (PAOP) range - ANS-6-12 mmHg
Normal Pulmonary Artery Systolic (PAS) range - ANS-20-30 mmHg
Normal Pulmonary Artery Diastolic (PAD) range - ANS-5-15 mmHg
Normal Pulmonary Artery Mean (PAM) - ANS-11-20 mmHg
Normal Systemic Vascular Resistance (SVR) range - ANS-800-1200 mmHg
Preload - ANS-volume left in the left ventricle at the end of diastole
What is preload affected by? - ANS-venous return to the heart, atrial kick, total volume,
and ventricular compliance
What drugs can affect preload? - ANS-Furosemide and nitroglycerin
Afterload - ANS-Amount of pressure heart has to overcome to pump blood out
What drugs may affect afterload? - ANS-Vasoconstricters and vasodilators
Contractility - ANS-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 arterial line? - ANS-5-10 min
What part of the heart does the PAOP affect? - ANS-Left ventricle
What part of the heart does the CVP affect? - ANS-Right ventricle
What does it mean when the PAOP is elevated? - ANS-Increased left ventricular end
diastolic pressure that could be indicative of left ventricular dysfunction or failure
, What does it mean if CVP is elevated? - ANS-Fluid overload or decreased compliance
(such as with ARDS and COPD)
Difference between stable and unstable angina - ANS-Stable angina: pain happens with
certain activities but then goes away with rest.
Unstable angina: chest pain can occur at rest, becomes more sever or frequent, or lasts
longer
ECG changes with an acute MI? - ANS-ST elevation or depression
ECG changes with hyperkalemia - ANS-Peaked T waves
What conditions may cause elevated cardiac enzymes? - ANS-Trauma, acute MI,
CABG, and pericarditis
What is the goal of treatment with cariogenic shock? - ANS-to increase cardiac output
What are the effects of nitroprusside (Nipride) and dobutamine (Dobutrex) on preload,
afterload, and contractility? - ANS-They both increase cardiac output, heart rate, and
contractility
Special precautions of Nipride - ANS-It can cause severe hypotension and cyanide
toxicity
Where to listen to assess with a murmur associated with aortic stenosis - ANS-right
upper sternal border
What is the most important thing to watch for when administering tPa? - ANS-mental
status changes
Anti-clotting medications - ANS-Aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), ticagrelor (Brilinta), warfarin
(Coumadin), heparin, apixaban (Eliquis), and enoxaparin (Lovenox)
Heart rate controlling medications - ANS-Beta blockers (-lol), calcium channel blockers
(-ipine), Digoxin
Heart rhythm controlling medications - ANS-Na+ channel blockers (lidocaine) and K+
channel blockers (amiodarone)
