Glowacki & Sommers (RCIS Questions)
QUESTIONS| WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
Course
RCIS
1. What is the normal range of potassium (K⁺) in the blood?
A) 2.5–4.0 mEq/L
B) 3.5–5.0 mEq/L
C) 4.5–6.0 mEq/L
D) 5.0–6.5 mEq/L
Correct Answer: B) 3.5–5.0 mEq/L
Rationale: The normal serum potassium level ranges from 3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L. Levels below 3.5
indicate hypokalemia, while levels above 5.0 indicate hyperkalemia, both of which can cause
cardiac arrhythmias.
2. Which of the following medications is classified as an antiplatelet agent?
A) Heparin
B) Warfarin
C) Aspirin
D) Furosemide
Correct Answer: C) Aspirin
Rationale: Aspirin is an antiplatelet medication that inhibits platelet aggregation, reducing the
risk of thrombus formation. Heparin and warfarin are anticoagulants, while furosemide is a
diuretic.
3. A patient experiencing a vasovagal reaction during a procedure is likely to
exhibit which of the following symptoms?
A) Increased blood pressure
B) Increased heart rate
C) Decreased stroke volume
D) Increased respiratory rate
Correct Answer: C) Decreased stroke volume
,Rationale: A vasovagal reaction leads to decreased blood pressure, decreased heart rate,
and decreased stroke volume due to enhanced vagal tone and reduced sympathetic response.
4. Which formula is used to calculate cardiac output (CO)?
A) CO = HR × SV
B) CO = SV ÷ HR
C) CO = HR ÷ SV
D) CO = SV × BP
Correct Answer: A) CO = HR × SV
Rationale: Cardiac output is calculated by multiplying heart rate (HR) by stroke volume
(SV), representing the volume of blood the heart pumps per minute.
5. An elevated right ventricular end-diastolic pressure (RVEDP) is commonly
associated with which condition?
A) Left ventricular infarct
B) Aortic stenosis
C) Right ventricular infarct
D) Mitral stenosis
Correct Answer: C) Right ventricular infarct
Rationale: An elevated RVEDP is indicative of right ventricular dysfunction, often resulting
from a right ventricular infarction.
6. During a pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) measurement, a
prominent 'v' wave is indicative of which condition?
A) Mitral stenosis
B) Aortic regurgitation
C) Mitral regurgitation
D) Tricuspid stenosis
Correct Answer: C) Mitral regurgitation
,Rationale: A prominent 'v' wave during PCWP measurement suggests mitral regurgitation,
where blood flows back into the left atrium during ventricular systole.
7. In the context of hemodynamic monitoring, what does the Flamm's equation
calculate?
A) Systemic vascular resistance
B) Pulmonary vascular resistance
C) Mixed venous oxygen saturation
D) Cardiac output
Correct Answer: C) Mixed venous oxygen saturation
Rationale: The Flamm's equation is used to calculate mixed venous oxygen saturation by
averaging oxygen saturations from the superior vena cava (SVC) and inferior vena cava
(IVC).
8. Which congenital heart defect is characterized by a left-to-right atrial septal
defect (ASD)?
A) Ostium primum
B) Sinus venosus
C) Ostium secundum
D) Patent foramen ovale
Correct Answer: C) Ostium secundum
Rationale: An ostium secundum ASD is a defect located in the central portion of the atrial
septum, leading to a left-to-right shunt.
9. The formula to calculate mean arterial pressure (MAP) is:
A) MAP = (Systolic BP + Diastolic BP) ÷ 2
B) MAP = (Systolic BP + 2 × Diastolic BP) ÷ 3
C) MAP = (2 × Systolic BP + Diastolic BP) ÷ 3
D) MAP = (Systolic BP × Diastolic BP) ÷ 3
Correct Answer: B) MAP = (Systolic BP + 2 × Diastolic BP) ÷ 3
, Rationale: Mean arterial pressure (MAP) is calculated using the formula:
MAP=(SBP+2×DBP)3MAP = \frac{(SBP + 2 \times DBP)}{3}MAP=3(SBP+2×DBP)
This accounts for the fact that the heart spends more time in diastole than systole.
10. What is the primary purpose of the intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP)?
A) Increase preload
B) Increase afterload
C) Decrease myocardial oxygen demand
D) Increase systemic vascular resistance
Correct Answer: C) Decrease myocardial oxygen demand
Rationale: The intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) inflates during diastole and deflates just
before systole, which helps increase coronary perfusion while reducing afterload, ultimately
decreasing myocardial oxygen demand.
11. Which coronary artery supplies the AV node in most people?
A) Left anterior descending (LAD) artery
B) Left circumflex (LCX) artery
C) Right coronary artery (RCA)
D) Posterior descending artery (PDA)
Correct Answer: C) Right coronary artery (RCA)
Rationale: In 85-90% of people, the right coronary artery (RCA) supplies the AV node through
the AV nodal artery. In the remaining cases, it is supplied by the left circumflex artery (LCX).
12. Which of the following is the most common site for femoral artery access in cardiac
catheterization?
A) Above the inguinal ligament
B) Below the inguinal ligament
C) At the midpoint of the femur
D) Below the knee
Correct Answer: B) Below the inguinal ligament
QUESTIONS| WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
Course
RCIS
1. What is the normal range of potassium (K⁺) in the blood?
A) 2.5–4.0 mEq/L
B) 3.5–5.0 mEq/L
C) 4.5–6.0 mEq/L
D) 5.0–6.5 mEq/L
Correct Answer: B) 3.5–5.0 mEq/L
Rationale: The normal serum potassium level ranges from 3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L. Levels below 3.5
indicate hypokalemia, while levels above 5.0 indicate hyperkalemia, both of which can cause
cardiac arrhythmias.
2. Which of the following medications is classified as an antiplatelet agent?
A) Heparin
B) Warfarin
C) Aspirin
D) Furosemide
Correct Answer: C) Aspirin
Rationale: Aspirin is an antiplatelet medication that inhibits platelet aggregation, reducing the
risk of thrombus formation. Heparin and warfarin are anticoagulants, while furosemide is a
diuretic.
3. A patient experiencing a vasovagal reaction during a procedure is likely to
exhibit which of the following symptoms?
A) Increased blood pressure
B) Increased heart rate
C) Decreased stroke volume
D) Increased respiratory rate
Correct Answer: C) Decreased stroke volume
,Rationale: A vasovagal reaction leads to decreased blood pressure, decreased heart rate,
and decreased stroke volume due to enhanced vagal tone and reduced sympathetic response.
4. Which formula is used to calculate cardiac output (CO)?
A) CO = HR × SV
B) CO = SV ÷ HR
C) CO = HR ÷ SV
D) CO = SV × BP
Correct Answer: A) CO = HR × SV
Rationale: Cardiac output is calculated by multiplying heart rate (HR) by stroke volume
(SV), representing the volume of blood the heart pumps per minute.
5. An elevated right ventricular end-diastolic pressure (RVEDP) is commonly
associated with which condition?
A) Left ventricular infarct
B) Aortic stenosis
C) Right ventricular infarct
D) Mitral stenosis
Correct Answer: C) Right ventricular infarct
Rationale: An elevated RVEDP is indicative of right ventricular dysfunction, often resulting
from a right ventricular infarction.
6. During a pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) measurement, a
prominent 'v' wave is indicative of which condition?
A) Mitral stenosis
B) Aortic regurgitation
C) Mitral regurgitation
D) Tricuspid stenosis
Correct Answer: C) Mitral regurgitation
,Rationale: A prominent 'v' wave during PCWP measurement suggests mitral regurgitation,
where blood flows back into the left atrium during ventricular systole.
7. In the context of hemodynamic monitoring, what does the Flamm's equation
calculate?
A) Systemic vascular resistance
B) Pulmonary vascular resistance
C) Mixed venous oxygen saturation
D) Cardiac output
Correct Answer: C) Mixed venous oxygen saturation
Rationale: The Flamm's equation is used to calculate mixed venous oxygen saturation by
averaging oxygen saturations from the superior vena cava (SVC) and inferior vena cava
(IVC).
8. Which congenital heart defect is characterized by a left-to-right atrial septal
defect (ASD)?
A) Ostium primum
B) Sinus venosus
C) Ostium secundum
D) Patent foramen ovale
Correct Answer: C) Ostium secundum
Rationale: An ostium secundum ASD is a defect located in the central portion of the atrial
septum, leading to a left-to-right shunt.
9. The formula to calculate mean arterial pressure (MAP) is:
A) MAP = (Systolic BP + Diastolic BP) ÷ 2
B) MAP = (Systolic BP + 2 × Diastolic BP) ÷ 3
C) MAP = (2 × Systolic BP + Diastolic BP) ÷ 3
D) MAP = (Systolic BP × Diastolic BP) ÷ 3
Correct Answer: B) MAP = (Systolic BP + 2 × Diastolic BP) ÷ 3
, Rationale: Mean arterial pressure (MAP) is calculated using the formula:
MAP=(SBP+2×DBP)3MAP = \frac{(SBP + 2 \times DBP)}{3}MAP=3(SBP+2×DBP)
This accounts for the fact that the heart spends more time in diastole than systole.
10. What is the primary purpose of the intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP)?
A) Increase preload
B) Increase afterload
C) Decrease myocardial oxygen demand
D) Increase systemic vascular resistance
Correct Answer: C) Decrease myocardial oxygen demand
Rationale: The intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) inflates during diastole and deflates just
before systole, which helps increase coronary perfusion while reducing afterload, ultimately
decreasing myocardial oxygen demand.
11. Which coronary artery supplies the AV node in most people?
A) Left anterior descending (LAD) artery
B) Left circumflex (LCX) artery
C) Right coronary artery (RCA)
D) Posterior descending artery (PDA)
Correct Answer: C) Right coronary artery (RCA)
Rationale: In 85-90% of people, the right coronary artery (RCA) supplies the AV node through
the AV nodal artery. In the remaining cases, it is supplied by the left circumflex artery (LCX).
12. Which of the following is the most common site for femoral artery access in cardiac
catheterization?
A) Above the inguinal ligament
B) Below the inguinal ligament
C) At the midpoint of the femur
D) Below the knee
Correct Answer: B) Below the inguinal ligament
