EKG certification Certification Pacemakers & Cardiac Devices 1

Question 1

What EKG finding is the hallmark of pacemaker activity?

Accepted Answer

A pacemaker spike (pacer artifact) preceding the paced beat

Answer

A tall, narrow P wave

Answer

A widened QRS complex without a preceding spike

Answer

A prolonged PR interval

Question 2

In the NBG pacemaker code, what does the FIRST letter represent?

Accepted Answer

The chamber paced

Answer

The response to sensing

Answer

The chamber sensed

Answer

The programmability of the device

Question 3

What is 'failure to capture' in a pacemaker?

Accepted Answer

A pacemaker spike is present but no myocardial depolarization follows

Answer

The pacemaker fails to detect native cardiac activity

Answer

The pacemaker fires too rapidly

Answer

The pacemaker fails to deliver any output

Question 4

Which EKG morphology is characteristically seen with right ventricular pacing?

Accepted Answer

Wide QRS complex with left bundle branch block (LBBB) morphology

Answer

Narrow QRS complex, left axis deviation

Answer

Wide QRS complex with right bundle branch block (RBBBB) morphology

Answer

Normal QRS complex with ST elevation

Question 5

What does a VVI pacemaker mode mean?

Accepted Answer

Ventricle paced, ventricle sensed, inhibited response

Answer

Atrium paced, ventricle sensed, inhibited response

Answer

Both chambers paced and sensed, inhibited response

Answer

Ventricle paced, no sensing, asynchronous pacing

Question 6

What is the lower rate limit (LRL) of a pacemaker?

Accepted Answer

The minimum heart rate below which the pacemaker will fire

Answer

The fastest rate at which the pacemaker will pace

Answer

The maximum tracking rate for sensed atrial events

Answer

The rate at which the pacemaker switches modes

Question 7

Which condition is a primary indication for implanting a permanent pacemaker?

Accepted Answer

Symptomatic third-degree (complete) heart block

Answer

Atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response

Answer

Frequent premature ventricular contractions (PVCs)

Answer

Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome