CET Patient Care & Safety Protocols 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the correct procedure for cleaning ultrasound gel from a transducer after a routine TTE examination?
- Rinse the transducer under running water
- Wipe with a soft cloth or gauze, then apply an approved disinfectant wipe (Correct answer)
- Soak the transducer in enzymatic solution for 30 minutes
- Autoclave the transducer after each use
Correct answer: Wipe with a soft cloth or gauze, then apply an approved disinfectant wipe
Gel should be wiped off with a soft cloth, followed by application of an approved low-level disinfectant wipe per manufacturer and facility protocols.
Question 2: A patient scheduled for a TEE reports eating a full meal 2 hours before the procedure. What is the most appropriate action?
- Proceed with the TEE as scheduled
- Postpone the TEE to ensure adequate NPO status (Correct answer)
- Administer a prokinetic agent and proceed
- Perform a TTE instead and document the findings
Correct answer: Postpone the TEE to ensure adequate NPO status
TEE requires a minimum fasting period (typically 4–6 hours) to reduce aspiration risk; the procedure must be postponed if NPO requirements are not met.
Question 3: When obtaining informed consent for a TEE from a patient who does not speak English, what is required?
- A family member may translate the consent form
- A qualified medical interpreter must be used (Correct answer)
- The procedure can proceed with a signed general consent form
- Written consent is not required for diagnostic procedures
Correct answer: A qualified medical interpreter must be used
A qualified medical interpreter must be used to ensure the patient fully understands the procedure, risks, and alternatives before providing informed consent.
Question 4: A patient with an implanted cardiac device is referred for echocardiography. What is the primary safety concern regarding ultrasound equipment?
- Ultrasound energy may deactivate the device
- Electrical interference from the echo machine could cause arrhythmia
- The device may interfere with image quality but poses no safety risk (Correct answer)
- Transducer pressure over the device could damage it
Correct answer: The device may interfere with image quality but poses no safety risk
Diagnostic ultrasound does not affect implanted cardiac devices; however, the device may create imaging artifacts that reduce image quality.
Question 5: Which standard precaution applies when a patient has an open wound near the echocardiography scan site?
- Use sterile gloves and a sterile transducer cover
- Cancel the exam until the wound is healed
- Use exam gloves and cover the wound with an occlusive dressing before scanning (Correct answer)
- Apply antiseptic gel directly to the wound before transducer contact
Correct answer: Use exam gloves and cover the wound with an occlusive dressing before scanning
Donning exam gloves and covering the open wound with an occlusive dressing protects both the patient and technician while allowing the exam to proceed safely.
Question 6: During an exercise stress echo, a patient complains of severe chest pain and ST changes appear on the monitor. What is the correct response?
- Continue to peak workload to obtain diagnostic images
- Terminate the test immediately and activate the emergency response (Correct answer)
- Administer sublingual nitroglycerin and reduce workload
- Increase monitoring frequency and complete the protocol
Correct answer: Terminate the test immediately and activate the emergency response
New ST changes accompanied by chest pain are absolute indications to terminate a stress test immediately and activate emergency protocols.
Question 7: What is the appropriate response when a patient discloses a new allergy to the ultrasound coupling gel mid-examination?
- Complete the examination and document the allergy afterward
- Stop the examination, remove the gel, and assess for allergic reaction signs (Correct answer)
- Switch to a hypoallergenic gel and continue
- Reassure the patient that gel allergies are rare and proceed
Correct answer: Stop the examination, remove the gel, and assess for allergic reaction signs
The examination should be stopped, gel removed, and the patient assessed for signs of allergic reaction before determining whether to continue.
CET Patient Care & Safety Protocols 3
What is the correct procedure for cleaning ultrasound gel from a transducer after a routine TTE examination?