BKAT Study Questions and Answers
2023
What to do first if patient has chest pain. – Correct Answer Rest!
ECG changes in an acute MI – Correct Answer ST elevation in 2 or more contiguous
leads. Ischemia d/t full thickness loss of muscle. EMERGENCY.
Inferior leads – Correct Answer II, III, aVF. RCA occlusion.
Septal leads – Correct Answer V1 & V2.
Anterior leads – Correct Answer V1 – V4. LAD lesion.
Lateral leads – Correct Answer V5, V6, I, and aVL. Circumflex lesion.
Cardiac enzymes – Correct Answer Troponins, CK-MB, and CK
Changes in CK – Correct Answer Rise: 3-6 hours
Peak: 24 hours
Normal: 3-4 days
Changes in CK-MB – Correct Answer Released after myocardial necrosis. Specific for
myocardial damage.
Rise: 3-12 hours
Peak: 24 hours
Normal: 2-3 days
Troponin I – Correct Answer Protein found in cardiac muscle. High sensitivity.
Rise: 3-12 hours
Peak: 24 hours
Normal: 5-10 days
Troponin T – Correct Answer Protein found in cardiac muscle. High sensitivity.
Rise: 3-12 hours
Peak: 12-48 hours
Normal: 5-14 days
Common conditions that cause a murmur – Correct Answer Aortic dissection, aortic
regurgitation (both acute & chronic), mitral valve regurgitation (both acute & chronic),
mitral valve stenosis
Drugs to decrease afterload/SVR/PVR – Correct Answer (Arterial Dilators)
Nitroprusside, nitroglycerin, amrinone, alpha (Regitine) & Ca channel blockers
Drugs to increased afterload/SVR/PVR – Correct Answer (Vasopressors) Epinepherine,
norepinepherine, dopamine, neosynephrine
Drugs to decrease contractility/SVI – Correct Answer Beta blockers (atenolol,
metoprolol, propranolol, labetolol, esmolol) and Ca channel blockers
Drugs to increase contractility/SVI – Correct Answer Positive inotropes, dobutamine,
dopamine, milrinone, and digoxin
Drugs to decrease preload/CVP/PAWP – Correct Answer Venous Dilators –
Nitroglycerin, nitroprusside, amrinone, alpha & Ca channel blockers
Diuretics – Furosemide, bumex, mannitol
Drugs to increase preload/CVP/PAWP – Correct Answer Volume – Colloid, crystalloids,
blood, hetastarch
Dysrhythmia control – antirhythmics, pacemaker, AICD
Complications when using thrombolytics – Correct Answer Allergic reaction,
bleeding/hemorrhage, stroke
Failure to capture – Correct Answer Pacer delivers a stimulus at the appropriate time but
no depolarization occurs. No P or QRS wave after pacer spike.
Failure to fire/pace – Correct Answer No pacer spikes seen
Failure to sense – Correct Answer Pacemaker does not detects heart’s intrinsic activity
or interprets noncardiac activity as intrinsic activity. Spikes in inappropriate times.
Normal PR – Correct Answer 0.12 – 0.20
Normal QRS – Correct Answer 0.04-0.10
Normal QT – Correct Answer Less than 0.48. Varies by age, HR, and gender.
Vasopressors – Correct Answer Epinepherine, norepinepherine, dopamine,
phenylephrine/neosynephrine, vasopressin/pitressin, milrinone/Primacor,
dobutamine/Dobutrex
Indication for dopamine/Intropin – Correct Answer Acts on SNS to increased HR and
BP. Indicated for hypotension, low CO, decreased renal blood flow. Use if patient is
bradycardic.
Doses of dopamine – Correct Answer Low: 0.5-2 mcg/kg/min (dopaminergic)
Intermediate: 2-10 mcg/kg/min (beta receptors, increases CO)
High: over 10 mcg/kg/min (alpha receptors, vasoconstrict)