CVT Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. Which medication is used to pharmacologically stress the heart during a nuclear stress test in patients who cannot exercise? → Dobutamine or regadenoson
2. Which ethical principle involves telling the patient the truth about their condition? → Veracity
3. In Cardiac Rhythm Management Devices, what is the FIRST step a CVT professional should take when encountering a new case or situation? → Conduct a comprehensive assessment and gather all relevant information
4. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is preferred over transthoracic echo (TTE) for evaluating: → Left atrial appendage thrombus
5. ACE inhibitors are beneficial in heart failure patients primarily because they: → Block the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system to reduce preload and afterload
6. A patient receiving digoxin therapy develops nausea, visual disturbances, and bradycardia. The CVT should suspect: → Digoxin toxicity
7. The Agatston score obtained from cardiac CT quantifies: → Coronary artery calcium burden as a marker of atherosclerosis
8. When a conflict arises between standard procedures and a unique situation in Cardiac Rhythm Management Devices, what should a CVT professional prioritize? → Safety and ethical obligations while seeking expert consultation
9. During programmed electrical stimulation (PES), what is the purpose of delivering extrastimuli (S2, S3)? → To induce tachyarrhythmias by scanning through refractory periods
10. Which lead configuration provides a view of the heart’s electrical activity in the frontal plane? → Standard limb and augmented leads
11. What does the HV interval measure in an electrophysiology study? → Time from His bundle activation to ventricular depolarization
12. What is the appropriate initial step when a patient faints during a procedure? → Check responsiveness and call for assistance
13. What does the P wave represent on an ECG? → Atrial depolarization
14. Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) during atrial fibrillation ablation targets pulmonary vein ostia located in the: → Left atrium
15. Which lead is typically used for rhythm monitoring in continuous ECG telemetry? → Lead II
16. Which catheter position is used to record His bundle electrograms during an EP study? → Tricuspid valve region
17. Which layer of the heart is responsible for contraction? → Myocardium
18. Amiodarone is classified as which type of antiarrhythmic drug? → Class III
19. Which view in cardiac CT or MRI best demonstrates the four cardiac chambers simultaneously? → Four-chamber view
20. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) is considered the gold standard for assessing: → Right ventricular volumes and function
21. Which two major complications are most feared during left-sided catheter ablation procedures requiring transseptal access? → Cardiac tamponade and thromboembolic stroke
22. Which of the following is a responsibility of a cardiovascular technologist regarding safety? → Inspecting and maintaining equipment
23. Which standard of practice is MOST important for ensuring quality in Peripheral Vascular Assessment? → Following evidence-based protocols while adapting to specific circumstances
24. When a conflict arises between standard procedures and a unique situation in Echocardiography Techniques, what should a CVT professional prioritize? → Safety and ethical obligations while seeking expert consultation
25. Which artifact commonly occurs in nuclear cardiac imaging due to the left breast in female patients? → Breast attenuation artifact
26. AVNRT (AV Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia) involves a reentrant circuit using: → Fast and slow conduction pathways within or near the AV node
27. Which valve prevents backflow of blood into the left atrium? → Mitral valve
28. In Stress Testing Protocols, what is the FIRST step a CVT professional should take when encountering a new case or situation? → Conduct a comprehensive assessment and gather all relevant information
29. In Hemodynamic Monitoring, what is the FIRST step a CVT professional should take when encountering a new case or situation? → Conduct a comprehensive assessment and gather all relevant information
30. A technologist begins a procedure without the patient’s informed consent. What ethical principle is violated? → Autonomy