CSC Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CSC facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. How should an CSC professional respond to a compliance violation? → Report it promptly, investigate the root cause, and implement corrective actions
2. What is reflective practice in Cardiac Subspecialty Certification Exam professional development? → Systematically examining experiences to gain insight and improve future practice
3. Which hemodynamic value is used to calculate pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR)? → (mPAP – PCWP) / CO
4. Elevated PCWP with normal CO and normal SVR is most consistent with: → Diastolic dysfunction / isolated LV filling abnormality
5. Which of the following drug classes belongs to the vasodilator family? → Beta-blockers, nitrates, calcium channel blockers
6. Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (e.g., spironolactone) are added in HFrEF to: → Reduce mortality by blocking aldosterone-mediated cardiac fibrosis
7. When the SA node fails to depolarize the atria, what is the condition known as? → Sinus pause
8. Which non-invasive technique uses changes in thoracic electrical impedance to estimate cardiac output? → Impedance cardiography
9. Pulse pressure variation (PPV) >13% during mechanical ventilation suggests: → Fluid responsiveness
10. Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) is used to estimate pressure in which cardiac chamber? → Left atrium
11. Which layer of the heart wall contains the cardiac muscle cells responsible for contraction? → Myocardium
12. In a patient with acute right ventricular infarction, the expected hemodynamic profile includes: → Low PCWP, low CO, high CVP
13. A stress echocardiogram is used primarily to detect: → Inducible myocardial ischemia
14. Which of the following is used to evaluate the calcium in coronary arteries? → Electron beam computed tomography
15. Nitroglycerin reduces cardiac workload primarily by: → Decreasing preload through venodilation
16. Color flow Doppler in echocardiography encodes blood flow direction as: → Red = toward transducer, Blue = away from transducer
17. Which medication is used to chemically cardiovert atrial fibrillation in a hemodynamically stable patient? → Ibutilide or flecainide
18. Which condition is most likely when pulmonary artery diastolic pressure significantly exceeds PCWP? → Pulmonary hypertension
19. Afterload refers to: → The resistance the ventricle must overcome to eject blood
20. The thermodilution method of measuring cardiac output involves injecting cold saline into which port of the pulmonary artery catheter? → Proximal (RA) port
21. Which medication class is first-line for managing symptomatic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF)? → ACE inhibitors or ARBs plus beta-blockers
22. The antidote for warfarin-induced life-threatening bleeding is: → 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (4F-PCC) plus vitamin K
23. Which echocardiographic view best visualizes the tricuspid valve? → Apical four-chamber view
24. A normal cardiac output in a resting adult is approximately: → 4–8 L/min
25. How does continuous improvement apply to CSC quality management? → It involves ongoing incremental enhancements to processes based on data and feedback
26. Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) is most commonly used during: → Electrophysiology procedures and structural interventions
27. Which vessels return oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart? → Pulmonary veins
28. Which approach best demonstrates professional competency in CSC practice? → Integrating continuing education, practical experience, and evidence-based decision making
29. Which of the following statements about a T wave is true? → Prominent peaks may indicate myocardial infarction or hyperkalemia
30. How should CSC professionals apply research findings to practice? → Critically evaluate applicability, adapt to context, and monitor outcomes