DC Cardiac Pacemaker Therapy & Management

Question 1

Which condition is the most common indication for permanent pacemaker implantation?

Accepted Answer

Complete heart block (third-degree AV block)

Answer

Atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response

Answer

Premature ventricular contractions

Answer

Sinus tachycardia

Question 2

In the NBG (NASPE/BPEG Generic) pacemaker code, what does the first letter represent?

Accepted Answer

The chamber paced

Answer

The rate-response function

Answer

The chamber sensed

Answer

The programmability of the device

Question 3

A VVI pacemaker is best described as a device that:

Accepted Answer

Paces the ventricle, senses the ventricle, and is inhibited by intrinsic ventricular activity

Answer

Paces both chambers sequentially with AV synchrony

Answer

Paces the atrium and senses the ventricle

Answer

Paces and senses both chambers with rate-adaptive function

Question 4

What is the primary clinical advantage of dual-chamber (DDD) pacing over single-chamber ventricular (VVI) pacing?

Accepted Answer

Maintenance of AV synchrony

Answer

Lower battery consumption

Answer

Simpler surgical implantation

Answer

Reduced device follow-up requirements

Question 5

Which pacemaker mode is most appropriate for a patient with sick sinus syndrome and intact AV conduction?

Accepted Answer

AAI

Answer

VVI

Answer

DDI

Answer

VOO

Question 6

Pacemaker syndrome is most accurately defined as:

Accepted Answer

Symptoms caused by loss of AV synchrony during ventricular pacing

Answer

Infection developing at the pacemaker generator pocket site

Answer

A pacemaker-induced rapid tachycardia

Answer

Failure of the pacemaker to capture the myocardium

Question 7

The lower rate limit (LRL) in pacemaker programming is defined as:

Accepted Answer

The minimum heart rate below which the pacemaker will begin pacing

Answer

The fastest rate at which the pacemaker can track atrial activity

Answer

The maximum programmable output voltage

Answer

The rate at which the pacemaker switches from DDD to VVI mode