Stress Testing Procedures Flashcards
7 cards from real CET practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Stress Testing Procedures flashcards as text
During a stress test, a patient develops ST elevation in lead aVR with diffuse ST depression in other leads. This pattern most suggests:
Answer: Left main or proximal LAD coronary artery disease
ST elevation in aVR with diffuse ST depression indicates global subendocardial ischemia, classically from left main or proximal LAD disease.
What is the minimum resting period recommended before retaking blood pressure if the initial reading is abnormally high prior to a stress test?
Answer: 5 minutes
A 5-minute rest and repeat measurement is recommended if resting BP is elevated, as anxiety or 'white coat' effect may account for the high reading.
Which of the following best describes the 'double product' (rate-pressure product) used during stress testing?
Answer: Heart rate multiplied by systolic blood pressure
The double product (heart rate × systolic BP) estimates myocardial oxygen demand and helps assess cardiac workload during exercise.
During a stress test, a patient develops a run of three consecutive PVCs. The correct response is:
Answer: Continue the test and observe for further arrhythmia
Three consecutive PVCs (a salvo) should prompt close observation; testing continues unless it degenerates into sustained VT or is symptomatic.
Which type of stress test protocol uses a bicycle ergometer rather than a treadmill?
Answer: Cycle ergometry protocol
Cycle ergometry protocols use a stationary bicycle, offering better workload control and less motion artifact, but typically yield lower peak METs than treadmill.
Post-exercise ST depression that persists for more than 6 minutes into recovery is considered clinically significant because it:
Answer: Suggests more severe or extensive ischemia
Prolonged ST depression into recovery correlates with more severe ischemia and is associated with a higher risk of multivessel coronary artery disease.
Why must patients avoid caffeine for at least 12–24 hours before a pharmacologic stress test using adenosine or regadenoson?
Answer: Caffeine competitively blocks adenosine receptors, blunting vasodilation
Caffeine and theophylline are adenosine receptor antagonists; their presence blocks the coronary vasodilatory effect of adenosine, producing a false-negative study.