Chapter 22, Cardiac Surgery

Answers to Chapter NCLEX-Style Review Questions

1. A patient is scheduled for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. The surgeon
has decided to harvest the patients saphenous vein fiberoptically. When providing
patient and family education about harvesting of saphenous vein grafts fiberoptically,
the nurse explains the advantages. Which of the following is one advantage in fiberoptic
harvesting of the saphenous vein?
a. It is a faster process than using a long incision.
b. It allows faster incision healing.
c. It requires fewer incisions.
d. It requires less pain medication postoperatively.
Answer b: Smaller incisions appear to enhance the wound healing process and can
possibly lessen infection rates.

2. A patient is scheduled for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery and will be
placed on the bypass pump. The nurse explains to the patient and her family that using
the bypass pump is associated with an increase in what type of complications?
a. Vascular
b. Renal
c. Neurological
d. Gastrointestinal
Answer c: The bypass pump is thought to lead to inadequate cerebral perfusion and
microemboli.

3. A patient has a diseased aortic valve and is scheduled for valvular reconstruction
surgery. The nurse explains to the family that valvular reconstruction is favored over

valvular replacement. Which of the following does the nurse include in her explanation?
Select all that apply.
a.
b.
c.
d.

Decreased intraoperative mortality

Fewer thromboembolic events
Fewer anticoagulation-associated complications
No thromboembolic events

Answers a, b, and c: Reconstruction lessens the number of postoperative complications

while maintaining adequate valvular function.

4. A patient is recovering from CABG surgery. The nurse notices on the cardiac monitor
that the patient has developed atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is a common
dysrhythmia that can occur in the postoperative period. Which of the following is the
preferred pharmacological agent used to treat this dysrhythmia?
a. Amiodarone
b. Diltiazem
c. Metoprolol
d. Procainamide
Answer a: Amiodarone is favored to treat atrial fibrillation because it can convert the
rhythm to sinus rhythm and will provide heart rate control.

5. A nurse is caring for a patient after his carotid endarterectomy. His blood pressure
has fluctuated and is difficult to control. Which of the following makes it difficult to control
blood pressure after carotid endarterectomy?
a. Baroreceptor sensitivity
b. Cardiac dysfunction
c. Position of the patients neck
d. Administration of intraoperative medications

Answer a: The baroreceptors in the carotid artery can be manipulated during the
surgical intervention that can cause blood pressure control issues.