HFHS CRITICAL CARE EXAM STUDY GUIDE
2026 PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
◉ Big box on ECG readings = ___ seconds? Answer: 0.20 seconds
◉ Little boxes on ECG readings = ____ seconds? Answer: 0.04 seconds
◉ The mA that achieves capture is the _______ _________ Answer:
pacing threshold
◉ Defibrillation energy settings (biphasic and monophasic) Answer:
biphasic 120-200 j and monophasic 360 j
◉ Synchronized Cardioversion energy settings for SVT or aflutter, for
afib, and for monomorphic VT (biphasic and monophasic) Answer:
SVT or aflutter-biphasic 50-100 j & monophasic 200 j
Afib-biphasic 120-200 j & monophasic 200 j
Monomorphic VT-biphasic 100 j & monophasic 100 j
◉ Vtach treatment Answer: Synchronized cardioversion and
Antiarrhythmic such as Amiodarone (150-300 mg) and/or lidocaine
,◉ Vfib treatment Answer: Defibrillation also can load them up with
Amiodarone
◉ SVT treatment Answer: Vasovagal maneuvers, carotid massage,
Adenosine (if BP is good) 6 mg for first dose and then 12 mg for the
second dose, or synchronized cardioversion
◉ Torsades treatment Answer: Synchronized cardioverison (if regular)
or defibrillation (if irregular) and administer Mg (treating underlying
cause)
◉ Anatomical location of Cardiac Assessment Landmarks Answer:
◉ Pulse pressure calculation Answer: Difference between the systolic
and diastolic pressure for example 120/60 the pulse pressure is 60!
◉ Cardiac output normal values Answer: 4-8 Liters per minute (formula
is Stroke Volume x Heart Rate)
◉ Cardiac Index normal values Answer: 2.5-4 L/min/m2 (formula is
Cardiac output divided by Body Surface Area aka need ht and wt)
◉ Central Venous Pressure or Right Atrial Pressure normal values
Answer: 2-6 mmHg or 2-8 cm H2O
, ◉ Pulmonary Arterial Pressure (PAP) normal values Answer:
Pulmonary Artery Systolic (PAS) 15-30 mmHg
Pulmonary Artery Diastolic (PAD) 5-15 mmHg
Pulmonary Artery Mean (PAM) 9-18 mmHg
◉ Pulmonary Artery Occlusion Pressure (PAOP) AKA Wedge normal
values Answer: Similar to CVP or RAP and the diastolic pulmonary
artery pressure will reflect this value closely... PAOP 6-12 mmHg
◉ Systemic Vascular Resistance (SVR) normal values Answer: 800-
1200
◉ Ejection Fraction normal value Answer: 65-75%
◉ SVO2 normal values Answer: 60-80
◉ PA Pressure considerations Answer: Measure PAS and PAD @ the
end of expiration
◉ Causes of decreased PAP, CVP/RAP, PAOP Answer: causes of
decreased Hypovolemia and venodilation
2026 PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
◉ Big box on ECG readings = ___ seconds? Answer: 0.20 seconds
◉ Little boxes on ECG readings = ____ seconds? Answer: 0.04 seconds
◉ The mA that achieves capture is the _______ _________ Answer:
pacing threshold
◉ Defibrillation energy settings (biphasic and monophasic) Answer:
biphasic 120-200 j and monophasic 360 j
◉ Synchronized Cardioversion energy settings for SVT or aflutter, for
afib, and for monomorphic VT (biphasic and monophasic) Answer:
SVT or aflutter-biphasic 50-100 j & monophasic 200 j
Afib-biphasic 120-200 j & monophasic 200 j
Monomorphic VT-biphasic 100 j & monophasic 100 j
◉ Vtach treatment Answer: Synchronized cardioversion and
Antiarrhythmic such as Amiodarone (150-300 mg) and/or lidocaine
,◉ Vfib treatment Answer: Defibrillation also can load them up with
Amiodarone
◉ SVT treatment Answer: Vasovagal maneuvers, carotid massage,
Adenosine (if BP is good) 6 mg for first dose and then 12 mg for the
second dose, or synchronized cardioversion
◉ Torsades treatment Answer: Synchronized cardioverison (if regular)
or defibrillation (if irregular) and administer Mg (treating underlying
cause)
◉ Anatomical location of Cardiac Assessment Landmarks Answer:
◉ Pulse pressure calculation Answer: Difference between the systolic
and diastolic pressure for example 120/60 the pulse pressure is 60!
◉ Cardiac output normal values Answer: 4-8 Liters per minute (formula
is Stroke Volume x Heart Rate)
◉ Cardiac Index normal values Answer: 2.5-4 L/min/m2 (formula is
Cardiac output divided by Body Surface Area aka need ht and wt)
◉ Central Venous Pressure or Right Atrial Pressure normal values
Answer: 2-6 mmHg or 2-8 cm H2O
, ◉ Pulmonary Arterial Pressure (PAP) normal values Answer:
Pulmonary Artery Systolic (PAS) 15-30 mmHg
Pulmonary Artery Diastolic (PAD) 5-15 mmHg
Pulmonary Artery Mean (PAM) 9-18 mmHg
◉ Pulmonary Artery Occlusion Pressure (PAOP) AKA Wedge normal
values Answer: Similar to CVP or RAP and the diastolic pulmonary
artery pressure will reflect this value closely... PAOP 6-12 mmHg
◉ Systemic Vascular Resistance (SVR) normal values Answer: 800-
1200
◉ Ejection Fraction normal value Answer: 65-75%
◉ SVO2 normal values Answer: 60-80
◉ PA Pressure considerations Answer: Measure PAS and PAD @ the
end of expiration
◉ Causes of decreased PAP, CVP/RAP, PAOP Answer: causes of
decreased Hypovolemia and venodilation
