CMC Technology & Digital Tools 3

Question 1

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) in interventional cardiology provides superior image resolution compared to intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) primarily because it uses:

Accepted Answer

Near-infrared light rather than sound waves, achieving 10-15 μm resolution

Answer

OCT uses near-infrared light to achieve 10–15 μm resolution, approximately 10× greater than IVUS, enabling visualization of thin-cap fibroatheroma.

Question 2

A cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) remote monitoring alert fires for a patient showing 6 hours of atrial high-rate episodes at 190 bpm. The MOST appropriate next action is:

Accepted Answer

Contact the patient to assess symptoms and review device logs before deciding on anticoagulation changes

Answer

Sub-clinical atrial fibrillation detected by CIEDs requires clinical correlation including symptom assessment and stroke risk evaluation before therapeutic changes.

Question 3

When using speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) to assess left ventricular function, global longitudinal strain (GLS) of -14% in a patient with preserved ejection fraction suggests:

Accepted Answer

Subclinical myocardial dysfunction despite normal LVEF

Answer

Normal GLS is typically more negative than -18%; a value of -14% indicates reduced myocardial deformation consistent with subclinical dysfunction.

Question 4

In a cardiac catheterization lab, the term 'DICOM' refers to:

Accepted Answer

Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine, the standard format for storing and transmitting medical images

Answer

DICOM is the universal standard for handling, storing, and transmitting medical imaging data including cath lab fluoroscopy and echo images.

Question 5

A wearable cardioverter-defibrillator (WCD) is MOST appropriately prescribed for:

Accepted Answer

A patient with newly diagnosed cardiomyopathy and LVEF 25% awaiting reassessment of LVEF after 3 months of GDMT

Answer

WCDs bridge the period before ICD implantation in patients with newly diagnosed low LVEF who may recover function with GDMT.

CMC - Cardiac Medicine Certification Practice Test

CMC - Cardiac Medicine Certification Practice Test

CMC Technology & Digital Tools 3