Exercise Stress Testing Flashcards
6 cards from real CCT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Exercise Stress Testing flashcards as text
During a treadmill stress test using the Bruce protocol, the first stage requires walking at what speed and grade?
Answer: 1.7 mph at 10% grade
Stage 1 of the standard Bruce protocol requires walking at 1.7 mph (2.7 km/h) at 10% grade for 3 minutes, equivalent to approximately 5 METs of workload.
What does a 'Duke Treadmill Score' of +5 or greater indicate?
Answer: Low risk — annual mortality of less than 1% per year, suggesting the patient has a good prognosis
Duke Treadmill Score ≥ +5 indicates low risk with an estimated annual mortality of less than 1%, indicating a good prognosis. The score incorporates exercise time, ST deviation, and angina.
A patient develops sustained ventricular tachycardia during a stress test. What is the technician's first action?
Answer: Stop the exercise immediately and alert the supervising physician while keeping the patient monitored
Sustained VT is an absolute indication to stop exercise immediately. The supervising physician must be notified immediately while the patient is moved to a supine position and continuously monitored for deterioration to VF.
What blood pressure response during exercise stress testing is considered normal?
Answer: Systolic BP progressively rises 10-50 mmHg above rest; diastolic BP remains unchanged or decreases slightly
Normally during exercise, systolic blood pressure rises progressively due to increased cardiac output, while diastolic blood pressure remains relatively stable or may decrease slightly due to peripheral vasodilation in exercising muscles.
Which symptom reported by a patient during stress testing is considered an anginal equivalent that should prompt test termination?
Answer: Jaw or left arm discomfort concurrent with ischemic ECG changes
Jaw pain and left arm discomfort are classic anginal equivalents — manifestations of myocardial ischemia that do not present as typical chest pain. When these occur alongside ischemic ECG changes, the test should be stopped.
What does 'METs' stand for in the context of exercise stress testing, and what MET level indicates a good functional capacity?
Answer: Metabolic Equivalents of Task; ≥10 METs indicates good functional capacity with a favorable prognosis
METs (Metabolic Equivalents of Task) measure exercise intensity relative to resting metabolism (1 MET = 3.5 mL O2/kg/min). Achieving ≥10 METs during exercise testing indicates good functional capacity and is associated with a favorable cardiovascular prognosis.