CET Risk Assessment & Mitigation 2

Question 1

A patient with a mechanical mitral valve prosthesis is referred for TEE. Which risk factor requires the most urgent pre-procedure evaluation?

Accepted Answer

Known esophageal varices

Answer

Esophageal varices are a contraindication to TEE due to risk of rupture and life-threatening hemorrhage during probe insertion.

Question 2

During a stress echocardiogram, a patient develops sustained ventricular tachycardia at peak exercise. The FIRST action the sonographer should take is:

Accepted Answer

Stop the test and notify the supervising physician immediately

Answer

Sustained VT during stress echo is a class I indication to terminate the test; the physician must be notified immediately to manage the arrhythmia.

Question 3

Which hemodynamic parameter during TEE monitoring most reliably signals impending hemodynamic collapse?

Accepted Answer

Progressive hypotension with rising heart rate

Answer

Falling blood pressure accompanied by compensatory tachycardia indicates cardiovascular decompensation requiring immediate intervention.

Question 4

A patient being prepared for TEE discloses they took clopidogrel this morning. The PRIMARY concern this raises is:

Accepted Answer

Increased bleeding risk if esophageal injury occurs

Answer

Clopidogrel inhibits platelet aggregation, meaning any mucosal trauma from TEE probe insertion carries heightened hemorrhage risk.

Question 5

When performing echocardiography on a patient with suspected cardiac tamponade, which finding should prompt the operator to alert the team for possible emergent pericardiocentesis?

Accepted Answer

Right ventricular diastolic collapse with respiratory variation in mitral inflow >25%

Answer

RV diastolic collapse combined with significant respiratory variation in Doppler inflow velocities indicates hemodynamically significant tamponade physiology.

(CET) Certified Echocardiography Technician Practice Test

(CET) Certified Echocardiography Technician Practice Test

CET Risk Assessment & Mitigation 2