CET Patient Care & Safety Protocols 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient with a latex allergy is scheduled for a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE). Which action is most critical before the procedure?
- Administer antihistamines prophylactically
- Ensure all latex-containing equipment is removed from the exam room (Correct answer)
- Notify the radiologist on call
- Postpone the exam until allergy testing is complete
Correct answer: Ensure all latex-containing equipment is removed from the exam room
Removing all latex-containing equipment from the exam room is essential to prevent anaphylaxis in latex-allergic patients.
Question 2: When positioning an elderly patient with severe kyphosis for a transthoracic echocardiogram, what is the priority concern?
- Optimizing acoustic windows
- Preventing pressure injuries and ensuring comfort (Correct answer)
- Minimizing scan time
- Avoiding use of pillows
Correct answer: Preventing pressure injuries and ensuring comfort
Preventing pressure injuries and ensuring comfort is the priority when positioning elderly patients with skeletal deformities, as they are at high risk for skin breakdown.
Question 3: A patient becomes agitated and tries to remove the transducer during a stress echocardiogram at peak heart rate. What is the FIRST action the echocardiographer should take?
- Continue imaging and document the behavior
- Call security immediately
- Stop the stress protocol and ensure patient safety (Correct answer)
- Administer sedation
Correct answer: Stop the stress protocol and ensure patient safety
Patient safety is paramount; the stress protocol must be stopped immediately when a patient becomes agitated at peak stress to prevent cardiovascular complications.
Question 4: Which disinfection level is required for transthoracic echocardiography transducers used on intact skin?
- Sterilization
- High-level disinfection
- Intermediate-level disinfection
- Low-level disinfection (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Low-level disinfection
Low-level disinfection is appropriate for non-critical items like TTE transducers that contact only intact skin.
Question 5: During a TEE procedure, the patient's oxygen saturation drops to 88%. What is the most appropriate immediate response?
- Increase the depth of sedation to reduce coughing
- Remove the TEE probe and provide supplemental oxygen (Correct answer)
- Continue imaging and monitor closely
- Administer IV fluids
Correct answer: Remove the TEE probe and provide supplemental oxygen
A drop in oxygen saturation to 88% indicates hypoxia, requiring immediate probe removal and supplemental oxygen to restore adequate oxygenation.
Question 6: A technician notices a patient's IV line has tissued (infiltrated) during a pharmacological stress echo. What should be done first?
- Slow the infusion rate and continue the study
- Stop the infusion and notify the supervising physician (Correct answer)
- Switch to a larger bore IV and resume
- Document the infiltration and proceed
Correct answer: Stop the infusion and notify the supervising physician
A tissued IV line must be stopped immediately and reported to the supervising physician to prevent tissue damage and ensure the stress agent is not extravasating.
Question 7: Which of the following is a contraindication to performing a dobutamine stress echocardiogram?
- Stable angina with known CAD
- Uncontrolled hypertension with BP > 200/110 mmHg (Correct answer)
- History of remote myocardial infarction
- Left ventricular ejection fraction of 45%
Correct answer: Uncontrolled hypertension with BP > 200/110 mmHg
Uncontrolled hypertension is a contraindication to dobutamine stress echocardiography due to the risk of hypertensive crisis and cardiovascular complications.
CET Patient Care & Safety Protocols 2
A patient with a latex allergy is scheduled for a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE).
Which action is most critical before the procedure?