CCT CCT - Certified Cardiographic Technician Cardiac Medications and ECG Effects Questions and Answers 2

Question 1

Hypokalemia is most likely to produce which ECG abnormality?

Accepted Answer

Prominent U waves and flattened T waves

Answer

Low potassium causes flattening or inversion of T waves and the appearance of prominent U waves, which can prolong the QU interval.

Question 2

Which ECG finding is characteristic of hypercalcemia?

Accepted Answer

Shortened QT interval

Answer

Elevated calcium shortens the ST segment and therefore the QT interval, because calcium affects plateau-phase duration of the action potential.

Question 3

Tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) overdose is most dangerous on the ECG because it causes:

Accepted Answer

QRS widening greater than 100 ms indicating high risk of arrhythmia

Answer

TCA toxicity blocks sodium channels, widening the QRS; a QRS >100 ms is associated with significantly increased risk of seizures and ventricular arrhythmias.

Question 4

Which medication can cause a 'Osborn wave' (J wave) pattern on the ECG, though it is more commonly seen with hypothermia?

Accepted Answer

Hypothermia alone causes it; no medication independently replicates it consistently

Answer

Osborn (J) waves are most reliably associated with hypothermia and hypercalcemia; no single medication independently produces this finding with consistency.

Question 5

A patient on procainamide (Class IA agent) develops a wide-complex tachycardia resembling torsades de pointes. What ECG clue before treatment would have predicted this risk?

Accepted Answer

Prolonged QT interval

Answer

Class IA agents (procainamide, quinidine, disopyramide) prolong the QT interval, and a markedly prolonged QT is a warning sign for torsades de pointes.

CCT - Certified Cardiographic Technician Exam Practice Test

CCT - Certified Cardiographic Technician Exam Practice Test

CCT CCT - Certified Cardiographic Technician Cardiac Medications and ECG Effects Questions and Answers 2