RVT Peripheral Arterial Physiologic Testing 3

Question 1

Which statement BEST describes the Windkessel effect and its importance in peripheral arterial testing?

Accepted Answer

It is the elastic recoil of large arteries that dampens pulsatile flow and maintains diastolic pressure

Answer

The Windkessel effect is the storage and release of energy by elastic vessel walls, sustaining forward flow during diastole and contributing to normal triphasic waveform morphology.

Question 2

A 68-year-old woman has rest pain and an ABI of 0.38. Her toe pressure is 22 mmHg. According to TASC II criteria, this patient most likely has:

Accepted Answer

Critical limb ischemia (Fontaine stage III-IV)

Answer

Critical limb ischemia is defined by rest pain or tissue loss with ankle pressure <50 mmHg or toe pressure <30 mmHg, consistent with this patient's findings.

Question 3

When performing thigh PVR measurements, which error would MOST likely cause falsely elevated thigh pressures?

Accepted Answer

Using a cuff that is too narrow relative to thigh circumference

Answer

A narrow thigh cuff requires higher pressure to compress the underlying artery, producing falsely elevated pressures—a cuff width of at least 40% of limb circumference is needed for accuracy.

Question 4

On a PVR tracing, which feature represents the dicrotic notch, and what does its absence indicate?

Accepted Answer

A small notch on the downstroke; absence indicates loss of arterial compliance or significant disease

Answer

The dicrotic notch on the descending limb of the PVR waveform represents aortic valve closure; its absence distal to a stenosis reflects dampening of pulsatility.

Question 5

A patient's right ABI is 0.85 and left ABI is 0.72. The right arm pressure is 130 mmHg and the left arm pressure is 118 mmHg. Which arm pressure should be used to calculate both ABIs?

Accepted Answer

Right arm pressure (130 mmHg)

Answer

The higher brachial pressure is always used as the denominator in ABI calculations to avoid overestimating the index and missing disease.

(RVT) Registered Vascular Technologist Practice Test

(RVT) Registered Vascular Technologist Practice Test

RVT Peripheral Arterial Physiologic Testing 3