EKG certification Certification Pacemakers & Cardiac Devices 2

Question 1

What is 'failure to sense' (undersensing) in a pacemaker?

Accepted Answer

The pacemaker fails to recognize the patient's intrinsic heartbeats

Answer

The pacemaker detects signals that are not true cardiac events

Answer

The pacemaker fires at a rate faster than programmed

Answer

The pacemaker lead becomes dislodged

Question 2

What is 'oversensing' in a pacemaker?

Accepted Answer

The pacemaker inappropriately detects non-cardiac signals and inhibits pacing

Answer

The pacemaker paces at a rate above the upper rate limit

Answer

The pacemaker captures the myocardium with excessive current

Answer

The pacemaker tracks atrial activity too rapidly

Question 3

What is pacemaker syndrome?

Accepted Answer

Symptoms caused by loss of AV synchrony during ventricular-only pacing

Answer

Infection around the pacemaker pocket site

Answer

Pacemaker-induced ventricular fibrillation

Answer

Oversensing causing inappropriate inhibition

Question 4

In a dual-chamber (DDD) pacemaker, what does the letter 'D' in the THIRD position indicate?

Accepted Answer

Both inhibition and triggering responses can occur

Answer

Dual chambers are paced

Answer

Dual chambers are sensed

Answer

The device has defibrillation capability

Question 5

What does a rate-responsive (VVIR or DDDR) pacemaker feature do?

Accepted Answer

It increases the pacing rate in response to physical activity or metabolic demand

Answer

It automatically switches between VVI and DDD modes

Answer

It paces the heart faster during sleep

Answer

It adjusts sensitivity based on the lead impedance

Question 6

What is the primary purpose of an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD)?

Accepted Answer

To detect and terminate life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias with a shock

Answer

To maintain a minimum heart rate via backup pacing only

Answer

To continuously monitor and record heart rhythms for later analysis

Answer

To control rapid atrial fibrillation with overdrive pacing

Question 7

On an EKG, what does the absence of pacemaker spikes in a patient with a permanent pacemaker and very slow heart rate most likely indicate?

Accepted Answer

Battery depletion or component failure of the pacemaker

Answer

Normal pacemaker function with intact intrinsic conduction

Answer

Pacemaker-mediated tachycardia

Answer

Electrode lead dislodgment causing oversensing