Critical Care Exam 2
CRITICAL CARE EXAM 2 NEWEST 2025/2026 COMPLETE ALL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
|ALREADY GRADED A+||BRAND NEW VERSION!
what social history is collected for cardiovascular assessment
-activity level
-diet
-smoking
-sleeping pattern
-substance use (caffeine included)
what are the diagnostic studies used for cardiovascular issues
-12 lead ECG
-CXR, MRI, CT
-holter monitor
-exercise tolerance test
-pharmacologic stress test
-nuclear stress test
-echocardiography
-transesophageal echocardiography
what is the first test performed if a patient complains of chest/cardiac
problems
12 lead ECG
what does the 12 lead ECG look at
electrical activity of the heart
what issues does 12 lead ECG clue into
1|Page
, Critical Care Exam 2
-ventricular hypertrophy
-electrolyte disturbances
-infarction somewhere in the heart
what does a CXR show for cardiovascular
-how big the heart is in the thoracic cavity
-position of the heart
-presence of fluid where it should not be
what is does CT show for cardiovascular
-helps look at actual vasculature especially when contrast is used
what does MRI show for cardiovascular
gives detailed picture of tissues of the heart
what does echocardiograph (ECHO) show for cardiovascular
-gives picture of heart movement and blood flow through heart
-specifically shows heart valves
-will show chambers to indicate if there is a clot somewhere
where do you place a transesophageal ECHO
stick the probe in the esophagus to give close picture compared to
regular echo
what is the benefit of transesophageal echocardiography
takes out equation of body habitus if you're looking through esophagus
because the heart will be right next to it
what is a cardiac catheter used to measure
2|Page
, Critical Care Exam 2
-pressures in the heart chambers
-cardiac output
-evaluate severity of lesions/atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries
what is used for a right sided cath
pulmonary artery catheter (SWAN)
where is a right sided cath placed
goes through femoral or brachial vein all the way up into the right
atrium, right ventricle, and into the pulmonary artery
what vessels are used for left sided cath
-femoral
-brachial
-radial
how is a left sided cath placed
-thread the catheter all the way up aorta
-inject dye
-continuous x-rays are taken to see where the dye flows
-can see if there is narrowing or blockage of coronary arteries
what is post op nursing care for cardiac cath
-maintain the patient on bedrest
-HOB <20 or flat
-immobilize the accessed extremity
-observe the access site for drainage or hardening
-monitor your pulses, color, temperature, and sensation of the accessed
extremity
3|Page
, Critical Care Exam 2
what is important to look at when thinking about cardiac problems
coronary circulation
where do the coronary arteries branch
aorta
what does the right coronary artery supply
-right atrium
-right ventricle
-SA node
-AV node
-posterior portion of the left ventricle
what are some complications with right coronary artery infarct
-heart block
-dysrhythmias due to involvement with SA/AV nodes
what does the left coronary artery supply
-anterior 2/3 of the heart septum
-whole front of the left ventricle
what is the left ventricle in charge of
pumping blood to the entire body
what are complications with left coronary artery infarct
-signs of heart failure
-reduced cardiac output
-higher degree of heart block
4|Page
CRITICAL CARE EXAM 2 NEWEST 2025/2026 COMPLETE ALL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
|ALREADY GRADED A+||BRAND NEW VERSION!
what social history is collected for cardiovascular assessment
-activity level
-diet
-smoking
-sleeping pattern
-substance use (caffeine included)
what are the diagnostic studies used for cardiovascular issues
-12 lead ECG
-CXR, MRI, CT
-holter monitor
-exercise tolerance test
-pharmacologic stress test
-nuclear stress test
-echocardiography
-transesophageal echocardiography
what is the first test performed if a patient complains of chest/cardiac
problems
12 lead ECG
what does the 12 lead ECG look at
electrical activity of the heart
what issues does 12 lead ECG clue into
1|Page
, Critical Care Exam 2
-ventricular hypertrophy
-electrolyte disturbances
-infarction somewhere in the heart
what does a CXR show for cardiovascular
-how big the heart is in the thoracic cavity
-position of the heart
-presence of fluid where it should not be
what is does CT show for cardiovascular
-helps look at actual vasculature especially when contrast is used
what does MRI show for cardiovascular
gives detailed picture of tissues of the heart
what does echocardiograph (ECHO) show for cardiovascular
-gives picture of heart movement and blood flow through heart
-specifically shows heart valves
-will show chambers to indicate if there is a clot somewhere
where do you place a transesophageal ECHO
stick the probe in the esophagus to give close picture compared to
regular echo
what is the benefit of transesophageal echocardiography
takes out equation of body habitus if you're looking through esophagus
because the heart will be right next to it
what is a cardiac catheter used to measure
2|Page
, Critical Care Exam 2
-pressures in the heart chambers
-cardiac output
-evaluate severity of lesions/atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries
what is used for a right sided cath
pulmonary artery catheter (SWAN)
where is a right sided cath placed
goes through femoral or brachial vein all the way up into the right
atrium, right ventricle, and into the pulmonary artery
what vessels are used for left sided cath
-femoral
-brachial
-radial
how is a left sided cath placed
-thread the catheter all the way up aorta
-inject dye
-continuous x-rays are taken to see where the dye flows
-can see if there is narrowing or blockage of coronary arteries
what is post op nursing care for cardiac cath
-maintain the patient on bedrest
-HOB <20 or flat
-immobilize the accessed extremity
-observe the access site for drainage or hardening
-monitor your pulses, color, temperature, and sensation of the accessed
extremity
3|Page
, Critical Care Exam 2
what is important to look at when thinking about cardiac problems
coronary circulation
where do the coronary arteries branch
aorta
what does the right coronary artery supply
-right atrium
-right ventricle
-SA node
-AV node
-posterior portion of the left ventricle
what are some complications with right coronary artery infarct
-heart block
-dysrhythmias due to involvement with SA/AV nodes
what does the left coronary artery supply
-anterior 2/3 of the heart septum
-whole front of the left ventricle
what is the left ventricle in charge of
pumping blood to the entire body
what are complications with left coronary artery infarct
-signs of heart failure
-reduced cardiac output
-higher degree of heart block
4|Page
