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 finding on an ICD interrogation most reliably confirms appropriate therapy for VF? → Stored EGM showing disorganized ventricular activity at >300 bpm before the shock
3. The ethical principle of justice in healthcare most directly relates to: → Providing equal and fair distribution of resources and care
4. Which ethical principle involves telling the patient the truth about their condition? → Veracity
5. Which waveform characteristic on a peripheral arterial Doppler study is most indicative of a hemodynamically significant proximal stenosis? → Monophasic waveform with prolonged systolic upstroke and absent diastole
6. 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
7. Which of the following best describes the Bernoulli principle as applied to arterial stenosis? → Pressure drops as velocity increases through a stenosis
8. In the Allen test performed before radial artery harvest, what does a positive (abnormal) result indicate? → Inadequate collateral flow to the hand from the ulnar artery
9. A patient receiving vasopressors has a MAP of 70 mmHg, CVP of 14 mmHg, and CO of 3.5 L/min. The SVR is approximately: → 1280 dyne·sec·cm⁻⁵
10. To assess the severity of aortic regurgitation during catheterization, the technologist performs an aortogram. Which injection site is used? → Aortic root just above the aortic valve
11. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is preferred over transthoracic echo (TTE) for evaluating: → Left atrial appendage thrombus
12. In ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), what is the term for the normal nighttime reduction in blood pressure? → Nocturnal dipping
13. ACE inhibitors are beneficial in heart failure patients primarily because they: → Block the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system to reduce preload and afterload
14. In a patient with left bundle branch block (LBBB), which of the following complicates STEMI diagnosis? → LBBB produces ST changes that mimic or obscure STEMI
15. A patient receiving digoxin therapy develops nausea, visual disturbances, and bradycardia. The CVT should suspect: → Digoxin toxicity
16. Which structure separates the left and right atria in the adult heart? → Interatrial septum
17. Which portion of the aorta gives rise to the right and left coronary arteries? → Aortic sinuses of Valsalva
18. Which lead is best for monitoring lead placement during continuous cardiac monitoring to detect ischemia? → Lead V5
19. A patient's ECG shows an RSR' pattern in V1 and a wide S wave in lead I. This pattern is consistent with: → Right bundle branch block
20. The Agatston score obtained from cardiac CT quantifies: → Coronary artery calcium burden as a marker of atherosclerosis
21. The Gorlin formula is used during cardiac catheterization to calculate which measurement? → Valve orifice area
22. Which ECG pattern represents a right ventricular MI and requires specialized lead placement to detect? → ST elevation in right-sided leads V3R-V4R
23. 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
24. Which catheter is specifically designed for selective engagement of the right coronary artery via the femoral approach? → Amplatz Right catheter
25. During programmed electrical stimulation (PES), what is the purpose of delivering extrastimuli (S2, S3)? → To induce tachyarrhythmias by scanning through refractory periods
26. Which hemodynamic finding is characteristic of severe mitral stenosis on cardiac catheterization? → Elevated mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressure with a diastolic gradient
27. When performing a stress test on a patient taking digoxin, the technologist should anticipate: → Digoxin-induced ST depression that may confound ischemia interpretation
28. Which lead configuration provides a view of the heart’s electrical activity in the frontal plane? → Standard limb and augmented leads
29. Which duplex finding best differentiates a pseudoaneurysm from a true aneurysm of the femoral artery? → To-and-fro flow pattern in the neck connecting the lesion to the artery
30. A patient's Holter report shows 'frequent multifocal PVCs.' What does 'multifocal' mean in this context? → PVCs with varying QRS morphologies originating from different ventricular sites