CVP Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CVP facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What is the most common type of valve disorder that may require surgical intervention involving a cardiovascular perfusionist? → Aortic stenosis
2. Which ECMO configuration provides both cardiac and respiratory support simultaneously? → Veno-arterial (VA) ECMO
3. How does chronic hypoxia affect myocardial tissue? → It can result in myocardial ischemia and infarction
4. A perfusionist notices the venous reservoir level is dropping rapidly despite adequate venous return. The most immediate action is to: → Reduce pump flow to prevent air entrainment
5. The main advantage of a hard-shell venous reservoir over a soft collapsible bag reservoir is: → It provides a built-in air-fluid interface that facilitates de-airing and gas removal
6. What is myocardial protection during cardiac surgery? → Techniques to prevent heart muscle damage during the period the heart is stopped
7. During hypothermic CPB at 28°C, the perfusionist notes a significant decrease in pump flow requirement to maintain adequate MAP. This is primarily due to: → Reduced oxygen consumption decreasing the required cardiac output
8. Which type of pump is most commonly used in modern ECMO circuits? → Centrifugal pump
9. What is the most common site for arterial cannulation in standard cardiopulmonary bypass? → Ascending aorta
10. Which venous cannulation technique uses a single cannula positioned in the right atrium with drainage holes extending into the inferior vena cava? → Single two-stage venous cannula
11. Which component of the CPB circuit is responsible for eliminating carbon dioxide from the blood? → The membrane oxygenator via the sweep gas flow
12. What is the role of the oxygenator in the bypass circuit? → To add oxygen and remove carbon dioxide from the blood
13. What is the role of calcium chloride after bypass? → To improve cardiac contractility and correct hypocalcemia from citrated blood products
14. When using a centrifugal pump for CPB, what is a key difference from a roller pump regarding flow delivery? → Centrifugal pumps are afterload-dependent; flow decreases with increased resistance
15. Antegrade cardioplegia is delivered via which route? → Aortic root or coronary ostia
16. What is the function of a purse-string suture at a cannulation site? → To create a hemostatic seal around the cannula insertion site that prevents bleeding
17. The purpose of an arterial line filter in a CPB circuit is to: → Remove microemboli and gaseous emboli before they reach the patient
18. What is ultrafiltration during cardiopulmonary bypass? → A technique to remove excess fluid and concentrate blood components
19. What serious vascular complication is associated with femoral arterial VA-ECMO cannulation? → Limb ischemia distal to the arterial cannula
20. What is cell salvage (cell saver) during cardiac surgery? → A device that collects, washes, and concentrates shed red blood cells for reinfusion
21. Which of the following best describes the role of the arterial line filter during CPB? → Removes gaseous and particulate microemboli from blood returning to the patient
22. The most common cause of platelet dysfunction during cardiopulmonary bypass is: → Contact activation of platelets by the CPB circuit surfaces
23. What is the primary function of a cardiopulmonary bypass machine? → To temporarily replace the function of the heart and lungs during surgery
24. During cardiopulmonary bypass, a sudden rise in arterial line pressure with no change in pump flow most likely indicates: → Aortic dissection or cannula obstruction
25. State licensure for perfusionists, where required, is administered by: → The respective state's licensing board or health department under state law
26. Which buffer system provides the most immediate response to acute changes in blood pH during cardiopulmonary bypass? → Bicarbonate-carbonic acid system
27. What is epsilon-aminocaproic acid (Amicar) used for during cardiac surgery? → To inhibit fibrinolysis and reduce bleeding
28. What hemodynamic effect does IABP deflation immediately before systole produce? → Reduced aortic end-diastolic pressure, decreasing afterload
29. During CPB, what is the primary purpose of the membrane oxygenator? → To add oxygen and remove carbon dioxide from blood
30. The primary purpose of the cardiotomy reservoir in a CPB circuit is to: → Collect and filter shed blood from the surgical field for reinfusion