RCIS PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS ACTUAL
EXAM COMPLETE 200+ QUESTIONS WITH
DETAILED VERIFIED ANSWERS 100%
CORRECT ANSWERS | ALREADY GRADED A+
Certification: Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS)
Governing Body: Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI)
Exam Focus: Cardiac anatomy and physiology, hemodynamics, ECG interpretation,
pharmacology, diagnostic procedures, interventional techniques, radiation safety, patient care
SECTION A: HEMODYNAMICS & CARDIAC OUTPUT (Questions 1-40)
Question 1:
What is the formula for calculating cardiac output (CO)?
A) CO = HR - SV
B) CO = HR × SV
C) CO = HR + SV
D) CO = HR / SV
Answer: B
Rationale: Cardiac output (CO) is calculated by multiplying heart rate (HR) by stroke volume
(SV). Normal cardiac output is 4-8 L/min. CO = HR × SV .
Question 2:
What is stroke volume (SV) primarily related to?
A) Afterload
B) Preload
C) Heart rate
D) Contractility
,Answer: B
Rationale: Stroke volume is primarily related to preload. Preload is the degree of stretch of the
cardiac muscle fibers at the end of diastole, which determines the volume of blood pumped with
each beat. The Frank-Starling mechanism describes this relationship .
Question 3:
Preload is most impacted by:
A) Decreased filling volumes
B) Increased filling volumes
C) Increased afterload
D) Decreased contractility
Answer: B
Rationale: Preload is most impacted by increased filling volumes. The greater the end-diastolic
volume, the greater the stretch on the myocardial fibers, resulting in increased stroke volume
(Frank-Starling mechanism). Preload is the volume of blood in the ventricles at the end of
diastole .
Question 4:
A patient with chronic untreated hypertension would demonstrate:
A) Decreased preload
B) Decreased afterload
C) Increased afterload
D) Normal afterload
Answer: C
Rationale: Chronic untreated hypertension increases systemic vascular resistance (SVR), which
increases afterload. Afterload is the resistance the left ventricle must overcome to eject blood.
Hypertension increases the pressure against which the heart must pump .
Question 5:
The formula for blood pressure is:
,A) BP = SV × SVR
B) BP = CO × SVR
C) BP = HR × SV
D) BP = SV × HR
Answer: B
Rationale: Blood pressure equals cardiac output multiplied by systemic vascular resistance (BP
= CO × SVR). Cardiac output is HR × SV. This fundamental relationship explains why changes
in either CO or SVR affect blood pressure .
Question 6:
What component of a Pulmonary Capillary Wedge (PCW) pressure indicates mitral insufficiency
(regurgitation)?
A) A wave
B) C wave
C) V wave
D) Y descent
Answer: C
Rationale: A prominent V wave on the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure tracing indicates
mitral insufficiency (mitral regurgitation). The V wave represents filling of the left atrium against
the closed mitral valve. In mitral regurgitation, regurgitant flow produces a large, tall V wave .
Question 7:
An elevated right ventricular end-diastolic pressure (RVEDP) is found in which pathology?
A) LV infarct
B) RV infarct
C) Aortic stenosis
D) Mitral stenosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Elevated right ventricular end-diastolic pressure is found in RV infarct, right heart
failure, and pulmonary hypertension. It reflects increased filling pressures in the right ventricle
due to impaired function or increased resistance .
, Question 8:
If the right atrial (RA) waveform is 2× the normal value, where would this be demonstrated in the
physical assessment?
A) Ascites
B) JVD (Jugular Venous Distension)
C) Peripheral edema
D) Hepatomegaly
Answer: B
Rationale: Jugular venous distension (JVD) is the physical exam finding that correlates with
elevated right atrial pressure. The RA waveform reflects venous pressure, and elevated
pressure is visible as distended neck veins .
Question 9:
What is the most common cause of pulmonic stenosis?
A) Rheumatic fever
B) Congenital
C) Infective endocarditis
D) Hypertension
Answer: B
Rationale: Pulmonic stenosis is most commonly a congenital anomaly. It is often associated with
other congenital heart defects such as Tetralogy of Fallot. Rheumatic fever most commonly
affects the mitral valve .
Question 10:
When performing a thermodilution cardiac output, the operator injects 10 cc of saline into the
_____ and the temperature change is measured in the _____.
A) RA, PA
B) RA, RV
C) RV, PA
D) PA, RA
EXAM COMPLETE 200+ QUESTIONS WITH
DETAILED VERIFIED ANSWERS 100%
CORRECT ANSWERS | ALREADY GRADED A+
Certification: Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS)
Governing Body: Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI)
Exam Focus: Cardiac anatomy and physiology, hemodynamics, ECG interpretation,
pharmacology, diagnostic procedures, interventional techniques, radiation safety, patient care
SECTION A: HEMODYNAMICS & CARDIAC OUTPUT (Questions 1-40)
Question 1:
What is the formula for calculating cardiac output (CO)?
A) CO = HR - SV
B) CO = HR × SV
C) CO = HR + SV
D) CO = HR / SV
Answer: B
Rationale: Cardiac output (CO) is calculated by multiplying heart rate (HR) by stroke volume
(SV). Normal cardiac output is 4-8 L/min. CO = HR × SV .
Question 2:
What is stroke volume (SV) primarily related to?
A) Afterload
B) Preload
C) Heart rate
D) Contractility
,Answer: B
Rationale: Stroke volume is primarily related to preload. Preload is the degree of stretch of the
cardiac muscle fibers at the end of diastole, which determines the volume of blood pumped with
each beat. The Frank-Starling mechanism describes this relationship .
Question 3:
Preload is most impacted by:
A) Decreased filling volumes
B) Increased filling volumes
C) Increased afterload
D) Decreased contractility
Answer: B
Rationale: Preload is most impacted by increased filling volumes. The greater the end-diastolic
volume, the greater the stretch on the myocardial fibers, resulting in increased stroke volume
(Frank-Starling mechanism). Preload is the volume of blood in the ventricles at the end of
diastole .
Question 4:
A patient with chronic untreated hypertension would demonstrate:
A) Decreased preload
B) Decreased afterload
C) Increased afterload
D) Normal afterload
Answer: C
Rationale: Chronic untreated hypertension increases systemic vascular resistance (SVR), which
increases afterload. Afterload is the resistance the left ventricle must overcome to eject blood.
Hypertension increases the pressure against which the heart must pump .
Question 5:
The formula for blood pressure is:
,A) BP = SV × SVR
B) BP = CO × SVR
C) BP = HR × SV
D) BP = SV × HR
Answer: B
Rationale: Blood pressure equals cardiac output multiplied by systemic vascular resistance (BP
= CO × SVR). Cardiac output is HR × SV. This fundamental relationship explains why changes
in either CO or SVR affect blood pressure .
Question 6:
What component of a Pulmonary Capillary Wedge (PCW) pressure indicates mitral insufficiency
(regurgitation)?
A) A wave
B) C wave
C) V wave
D) Y descent
Answer: C
Rationale: A prominent V wave on the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure tracing indicates
mitral insufficiency (mitral regurgitation). The V wave represents filling of the left atrium against
the closed mitral valve. In mitral regurgitation, regurgitant flow produces a large, tall V wave .
Question 7:
An elevated right ventricular end-diastolic pressure (RVEDP) is found in which pathology?
A) LV infarct
B) RV infarct
C) Aortic stenosis
D) Mitral stenosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Elevated right ventricular end-diastolic pressure is found in RV infarct, right heart
failure, and pulmonary hypertension. It reflects increased filling pressures in the right ventricle
due to impaired function or increased resistance .
, Question 8:
If the right atrial (RA) waveform is 2× the normal value, where would this be demonstrated in the
physical assessment?
A) Ascites
B) JVD (Jugular Venous Distension)
C) Peripheral edema
D) Hepatomegaly
Answer: B
Rationale: Jugular venous distension (JVD) is the physical exam finding that correlates with
elevated right atrial pressure. The RA waveform reflects venous pressure, and elevated
pressure is visible as distended neck veins .
Question 9:
What is the most common cause of pulmonic stenosis?
A) Rheumatic fever
B) Congenital
C) Infective endocarditis
D) Hypertension
Answer: B
Rationale: Pulmonic stenosis is most commonly a congenital anomaly. It is often associated with
other congenital heart defects such as Tetralogy of Fallot. Rheumatic fever most commonly
affects the mitral valve .
Question 10:
When performing a thermodilution cardiac output, the operator injects 10 cc of saline into the
_____ and the temperature change is measured in the _____.
A) RA, PA
B) RA, RV
C) RV, PA
D) PA, RA
