NR 509 APEA Exam CARDIO – Question and Answers with Explanations
Question 1:
The lymphatic ducts drain into the:
a. Arterial system.
b. Venous
... [Show More] system.
c. Arteriovenous system.
d. Capillary bed.
Explanation:
The lymphatic ducts drain into the venous system.
Question 2:
While auscultating the patient's heart, a medium, soft murmur is audible. It is pansystolic and heard loudest at the apex with radiation to the left axilla. These findings are consistent with:
a. Tricuspid regurgitation.
b. Mitral regurgitation.
c. ventricular septal defect
d. An innocent murmur.
Explanation:
Mitral regurgitation produces a pansystolic, harsh murmur heard loudest at the apex with radiation toward the left axilla. The intensity of the murmur can be soft or if there is an atrial thrill, it can be loud. With tricuspid regurgitation, the murmur is audible loudest at the left sternal border with radiation to the right sternal border, xiphoid area, or to the left midclavicular line. It produces a blowing sound and is pansystolic. The murmur of an uncomplicated ventricular septal defect has a high pitch and is usually heard throughout systole. An innocent murmur is heard loudest at mid systole near the second to fourth intercostal spaces between the left sternal border and the apex. It usually decreases or disappears when sitting.
Question 3:
Which of the following group of symptoms would be suggestive of an infant experiencing a congenital heart defect associated with a decreased pulmonary blood flow pattern?
a. Tissue perfusion greater than 3 seconds, bluish colored skin, and poor feeding
b. Abnormal heart sounds, capillary refill less than 2 seconds, and oxygen saturation less than 95%
c. Capillary refill less than 2 seconds, tissue perfusion less than 3 seconds, and oxygen saturation greater than 95%
d. Poor feeding, audible heart murmur, and oxygen saturation greater than 95%
Explanation:
Infants with defects resulting from decreased pulmonary blood flow have cyanosis because of desaturated blood entering systemic circulation and/or because of the inability to get blood to the lungs. Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), pulmonary atresia and tricuspid atresia all fall in this category and are considered cyanotic defects. Due to the ventricular septal defect in TOF, the absence of the tricuspid valve or pulmonary valve in tricuspid and pulmonary atresia, one should hear abnormal heart sounds either due to the murmur in TOF or single heart sounds of S1 or S2 in pulmonary atresia or tricuspid atresia. Usually these infants have activity intolerance and therefore, experience failure to thrive because of their inability to consume enough formula to gain weight appropriately. Capillary refill is usually prolonged due to poor oxygenation and poor perfusion secondary to the defect as well as the O2 sats being lower than normal, sometimes even in the 80% range.
Question 4:
Right atrial pressure can be determined by:
a. Palpating the carotid pulse. Incorrect
b. Identifying the pulsations of the right jugular vein.
c. Analyzing the arterial blood gases.
d. Assessing for dependent edema.
Explanation:
Jugular venous pressure reflects pressure in the right atrium and is best assessed from pulsations in the right internal jugular vein. This is an indicator of cardiac function and right heart hemodynamics. Palpating the carotid artery denotes arterial pressure; analyzing blood gases reflects the status of the arterial blood. Assessing for dependent edema is a reflection of heart failure and poor venous return and not atrial pressure.
Question 5:
When assessing the heart rate of a healthy 13-month-old child, which one of the following sites is the most appropriate for this child?
a. Apical pulse at the 5th intercostal space right midclavicular line
b. Apical pulse between the 3rd and 4th intercostal space in the left midclavicular line
c. Apical pulse to the right of the midclavicular line in the 3rd intercostal space
d. Apical pulse in the 5th intercostal space left midclavicular line Incorrect
Explanation:
The apical pulse in a 13-month-old is auscultated for a full minute between the 3rd and 4th intercostal space to the left of the midclavicular line. The only time one would auscultate the right midclavicular line would be if the child had situs inversus or dextrocardia.
Question 6:
The infraorbital or maxillary, buccinator, and supramandibular lymph nodes drain lymphatic fluid from the:
a. Palpebral conjunctiva and the skin adjacent to the ear within the temporal region.
b. Eyelids, the conjunctiva, and the skin and mucous membrane of the nose and cheek.
c. Mouth, throat, and face. Incorrect
d. Posterior part of the temporoparietal region. [Show Less]