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. Which conduit has the best long-term patency for coronary artery bypass grafting to the left anterior descending artery? → Left internal mammary artery
2. Intraoperative graft flow measurement using transit-time flowmetry is used to: → Verify graft patency and detect technical errors before chest closure
3. What phase, if any, comes last in a nursing procedure? → Record and report the procedure
4. Intraoperative TEE after mitral valve repair is used primarily to: → Assess residual regurgitation and confirm adequate valve function before chest closure
5. Which type of oxygenator is most commonly used in modern cardiopulmonary bypass circuits? → Hollow-fiber membrane oxygenator
6. What is the purpose of a left ventricular vent during cardiopulmonary bypass? → To prevent left ventricular distension and reduce myocardial work
7. Sternal wound infection after cardiac surgery is most commonly caused by: → Staphylococcus aureus
8. The SYNTAX score is used in coronary artery disease primarily to: → Quantify coronary anatomy complexity and guide CABG vs. PCI decision-making
9. Which blood product is most effective for reversing coagulopathy due to dilutional platelet loss after prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass? → Platelet concentrate
10. Which of the following criteria is true when weaning patients off of artificial ventilation during the early postoperative period? → Chest tube drainage of 40 mL/hr
11. What is the primary long-term consequence of leaving a large, unrestrictive VSD untreated beyond early childhood? → Eisenmenger syndrome with irreversible pulmonary vascular obstructive disease
12. The most important complication to monitor for in patients on veno-arterial ECMO after cardiac surgery is: → Limb ischemia from the femoral arterial cannula and left ventricular distension
13. Which repair technique for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) involves resecting basal septal muscle? → Morrow myectomy
14. Which cardioplegia strategy provides the longest safe period of myocardial protection during complex cardiac surgery? → Intermittent antegrade cold blood cardioplegia with retrograde supplementation
15. What is the mechanism of action of aprotinin in cardiac surgery? → Serine protease inhibition reducing fibrinolysis and platelet activation
16. What is the most common cause of late failure of saphenous vein coronary bypass grafts beyond 5 years? → Atherosclerosis
17. The bidirectional Glenn procedure connects which two structures? → Superior vena cava end-to-side to the right pulmonary artery
18. Which intraoperative monitoring is considered standard for major cardiac surgery requiring CPB? → Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)
19. In a complete atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD), how many leaflets does the common AV valve typically contain? → Five leaflets spanning both the tricuspid and mitral annuli
20. Which suture technique is associated with the lowest risk of perivalvular leak in aortic valve replacement? → Horizontal mattress sutures with pledgets
21. Protamine is given after cardiopulmonary bypass primarily to: → Reverse heparin anticoagulation
22. The classic Blalock-Taussig (BT) shunt anastomoses which two structures? → Subclavian artery to ipsilateral pulmonary artery
23. The primary indication for the Impella device in cardiac surgery patients is: → Mechanical support for cardiogenic shock or high-risk procedures requiring LV unloading
24. Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) in cardiac surgery patients is managed by substituting heparin with: → Bivalirudin or argatroban for anticoagulation during CPB
25. Vasoplegic syndrome after cardiac surgery is characterized by: → Severe hypotension with low systemic vascular resistance and preserved cardiac output
26. Which valve position carries the highest risk of prosthetic valve thrombosis if anticoagulation is subtherapeutic? → Mitral mechanical valve
27. In aortic valve replacement, what is the primary advantage of a sutureless bioprosthetic valve? → Reduced cross-clamp time
28. At what approximate age is Fontan completion typically performed following the bidirectional Glenn procedure? → 2 to 4 years of age
29. Which antifibrinolytic agent is most commonly used intraoperatively in US cardiac surgery to reduce bleeding? → Tranexamic acid
30. How sleepy does Azatadine normally make you feel? → Moderate