CIR CIR Hemodynamic Monitoring & Cardiac Catheterization 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the normal range for pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) in a healthy adult?
- 2–12 mmHg (Correct answer)
- 15–25 mmHg
- 25–35 mmHg
- 35–45 mmHg
Correct answer: 2–12 mmHg
Normal PCWP is 2–12 mmHg and reflects left atrial filling pressure.
Question 2: During right heart catheterization, which chamber is entered immediately after passing through the tricuspid valve?
- Left ventricle
- Right atrium
- Right ventricle (Correct answer)
- Pulmonary artery
Correct answer: Right ventricle
The tricuspid valve separates the right atrium from the right ventricle, so passage through it leads into the right ventricle.
Question 3: Which hemodynamic parameter is calculated as mean arterial pressure minus right atrial pressure divided by cardiac output?
- Pulmonary vascular resistance
- Systemic vascular resistance (Correct answer)
- Cardiac index
- Stroke volume index
Correct answer: Systemic vascular resistance
Systemic vascular resistance (SVR) = (MAP − RAP) / CO × 80, reflecting afterload on the left ventricle.
Question 4: A cardiac output of 4.0 L/min with a BSA of 2.0 m² yields a cardiac index of:
- 2.0 L/min/m² (Correct answer)
- 4.0 L/min/m²
- 8.0 L/min/m²
- 1.0 L/min/m²
Correct answer: 2.0 L/min/m²
Cardiac index = CO / BSA = 4.0 / 2.0 = 2.0 L/min/m², which is at the lower limit of normal.
Question 5: The Fick principle for calculating cardiac output requires measurement of:
- Heart rate and stroke volume
- Oxygen consumption and arteriovenous oxygen difference (Correct answer)
- Blood pressure and vascular resistance
- Ejection fraction and end-diastolic volume
Correct answer: Oxygen consumption and arteriovenous oxygen difference
The Fick method calculates CO = VO₂ / (CaO₂ − CvO₂), requiring oxygen consumption and A-V O₂ content difference.
Question 6: Which waveform component of an arterial pressure tracing represents closure of the aortic valve?
- Anacrotic notch
- Dicrotic notch (Correct answer)
- Peak systolic pressure
- End-diastolic pressure
Correct answer: Dicrotic notch
The dicrotic notch on the arterial waveform corresponds to aortic valve closure at the end of systole.
CIR CIR Hemodynamic Monitoring & Cardiac Catheterization 1
What is the normal range for pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) in a healthy adult?