A patient was admitted for terminal heart failure and is now eligible for a transplant. The family wants everything possible done to maintain life. Which procedure might be offered to the patient for this condition to increase the patient's quality of life?
Coronary artery bypass graft
Percutaneous coronary artery intervention
Nothing, because the patient is in terminal heart failure
Left ventricular assist device (LVAD)
The Correct Answer is D
Rationale:
A. A coronary artery bypass graft is used to treat coronary artery disease but is not typically indicated for end-stage heart failure.
B. Percutaneous coronary intervention is also used for coronary artery disease, not for improving quality of life in terminal heart failure.
C. This option dismisses potential interventions that could improve quality of life, such as an LVAD.
D. An LVAD is a mechanical pump that assists the left ventricle in pumping blood, often used as a bridge to heart transplant or as a long-term solution to improve quality of life in patients with terminal heart failure.
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View Related questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Rationale:
A. An electrophysiology study assesses the electrical activity of the heart but does not evaluate heart function or chamber size.
B. A 12-lead electrocardiogram records the electrical activity of the heart but does not provide detailed information on heart function or chamber size.
C. Cardiac catheterization is an invasive procedure used to assess coronary artery disease and other structural heart conditions but is not the primary study for evaluating heart function and chamber size.
D. An echocardiogram is a non-invasive ultrasound that provides detailed images of the heart, including its function, chamber size, and valve function, making it the best choice for this purpose.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Rationale:
A. A depressed ST-segment is often associated with ischemia or non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), not an ongoing MI.
B. A depressed ST-segment with normal cardiac enzymes suggests ischemia rather than an active MI.
C. ST-segment elevation on ECG combined with elevated cardiac biomarkers such as CK-MB or troponin levels is a hallmark of an acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), indicating an ongoing MI.
D. A Q wave on ECG indicates an old infarction and is not associated with an acute MI if enzymes and troponin levels are normal.