CCI Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. If a patient's heart rate is 160, it would be considered which of the following? → Tachycardia
2. Which feature of a non-MR-conditional pacemaker or ICD is the primary concern when a patient requires MRI? → Electromagnetic interference causing oversensing or inappropriate pacing
3. General factors that could favor an echocardiography would include all of the following, except: → Higher cost
4. The statement that would best describe a "comet tail" would be considered which of the following? → A series of closely spaced reverberation echoes.
5. Which Doppler modality uses a sample volume placed at a fixed depth and provides spectral analysis of flow at that specific location? → Pulsed wave Doppler
6. During stress echocardiography, which new wall motion abnormality at peak stress is most indicative of significant coronary artery disease? → Stress-induced hypokinesis or akinesis in a coronary territory
7. The right coronary artery originates from the ________________? → Right coronary aortic sinus
8. What finding on echo Doppler is used to non-invasively estimate right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP)? → Peak tricuspid regurgitation jet velocity using the modified Bernoulli equation
9. What is the mechanism of action of dobutamine when used as a pharmacologic stressor in stress echocardiography? → Beta-1 adrenergic stimulation increasing heart rate and contractility to simulate exercise
10. What is the primary hemodynamic effect of intravenous nitroglycerin at low doses used in acute heart failure management? → Venodilation reducing preload and left ventricular filling pressures
11. Which echocardiographic view is obtained by placing the transducer at the left parasternal border to visualize the long axis of the heart? → Parasternal long-axis view
12. The Gorlin formula is a standard calculation used in the cardiac catheterization lab to determine which of the following parameters? → Aortic valve area
13. Which of the following would more than likely not be documented on the official report for the echocardiography images? → Cost of the examination
14. Which of the following would the beam former do? → Both B and C
15. Which echocardiographic technique measures myocardial deformation to detect subtle dysfunction before overt wall motion abnormalities? → Speckle tracking strain imaging
16. Which echocardiographic finding is characteristic of cardiac tamponade? → Right ventricular diastolic collapse and respiratory variation in mitral inflow >25%
17. Which of the following vessels carry oxygenated blood to the myocardium? → Coronary arteries
18. A chemistry check would determine information regarding all of the following, except_______: → Brain
19. What is the primary indication for using adenosine during cardiac catheterization for fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurement? → To induce maximal coronary hyperemia for accurate pressure gradient measurement
20. What is the most common cause of acute pacemaker failure to capture in the early post-implant period? → Lead dislodgement
21. In 3D echocardiography, what is the primary advantage over 2D echo for left ventricular volume assessment? → It eliminates geometric assumptions and foreshortening of the LV apex
22. Which drug class is contraindicated in patients with severe aortic stenosis when treating systemic hypertension due to risk of hemodynamic collapse? → Potent vasodilators such as hydralazine or nitroprusside
23. An aneurysm has the potential to be caused by all but which of the following uncommon arterial wall infections? → Measles
24. What is the primary indication for an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD)? → Prevention of sudden cardiac death from ventricular arrhythmias
25. In which of the following areas would a 3D echocardiogram not be used? → Physical therapy
26. Which of the following best describes the relationship between transducer frequency, image resolution, and penetration depth? → Higher frequency improves resolution but decreases penetration.
27. During a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE), which structure is best visualized in the mid-esophageal four-chamber view? → All four cardiac chambers and AV valves
28. During right heart catheterization, the oxygen saturation step-up from the right atrium to the right ventricle suggests which condition? → Ventricular septal defect (VSD) with left-to-right shunt
29. In the Fick method for cardiac output calculation, what three variables are required? → Oxygen consumption, arterial O₂ content, and mixed venous O₂ content
30. Which anticoagulant is most commonly used during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) due to its immediate onset and reversibility with protamine? → Heparin (unfractionated)