CET Risk Assessment & Mitigation 3

Question 1

A patient undergoing dobutamine stress echo develops new regional wall motion abnormalities at low dose (10 mcg/kg/min). This finding indicates:

Accepted Answer

High-risk ischemia requiring immediate test termination and physician evaluation

Answer

New wall motion abnormalities at low dobutamine doses suggest severe underlying coronary artery disease and represent a high-risk endpoint requiring test termination.

Question 2

Before administering an ultrasound contrast agent, the sonographer verifies that resuscitation equipment is available. This is required because contrast agents carry a risk of:

Accepted Answer

Anaphylactoid reactions including severe bronchospasm or cardiovascular collapse

Answer

FDA labeling for ultrasound contrast agents mandates that resuscitation equipment be available due to the rare but serious risk of cardiopulmonary reactions.

Question 3

A patient on anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation is scheduled for TEE. The INR result returns at 4.8. The sonographer should:

Accepted Answer

Notify the ordering physician before proceeding, as the INR exceeds the safe procedural threshold

Answer

An INR >3.5 is generally considered above the safe threshold for TEE; the physician must be informed to decide whether to proceed or correct coagulation first.

Question 4

During a TEE exam, the patient's oxygen saturation drops from 97% to 88% over two minutes. The MOST appropriate response is:

Accepted Answer

Remove the probe, reposition the patient, provide supplemental oxygen, and notify the physician

Answer

A significant drop in SpO2 during TEE may indicate airway compromise or laryngospasm requiring immediate probe removal and airway management.

Question 5

In a patient with known latex allergy presenting for echocardiography, which item in the echo lab most commonly contains latex and must be substituted?

Accepted Answer

Gloves used during probe handling and patient contact

Answer

Latex gloves remain the most common source of latex exposure in the echo lab; latex-free gloves must be used for all contact with latex-allergic patients.

(CET) Certified Echocardiography Technician Practice Test

(CET) Certified Echocardiography Technician Practice Test

CET Risk Assessment & Mitigation 3