CIRCC case studies
CIRCC · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS) credential is issued by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI), a credentialing body for cardiovascular professionals. It is aimed at technologists and clinicians who work in the cardiac catheterization laboratory and other invasive cardiovascular settings, supporting physicians during diagnostic and interventional procedures. Because the official RCIS exam page could not be retrieved, the specific content outline, item count, time limit, fee, passing standard, and retake rules are not confirmed here and should be verified directly with CCI before you apply. Based on the domain structure used for this study profile, preparation should span four areas: cardiovascular invasive technology, cardiac anatomy, physiology and pathology, invasive cardiac procedures and equipment, and patient care and safety in the catheterization laboratory. The CIRCC case studies are 5 cases and about 2,327 words.
1Pressure Damping and the Overdamped Waveform
You are assisting in a diagnostic catheterization on a 68-year-old man with aortic stenosis. The aortic pressure tracing from the fluid-filled catheter looks blunted: the systolic peak is rounded, the dicrotic notch is nearly gone, and the systolic reading is 92 mmHg while the mean is 78 mmHg.
328 words, about 2 min2Bradycardia and Hypotension During Right Heart Catheterization
A 54-year-old woman is undergoing right heart catheterization for pulmonary hypertension evaluation. While the balloon-tipped catheter is advanced through the right ventricle and into the pulmonary artery, she suddenly reports lightheadedness.
482 words, about 2 min3Contrast Volume Limits in a Patient with CKD
A 72-year-old man with diabetes and stage 4 chronic kidney disease (eGFR 22 mL/min/1.73 m²) is scheduled for coronary angiography after an abnormal stress test. He is not on dialysis.
508 words, about 3 min4Radial Access, Spasm, and Loss of the Guidewire
You are scrubbed for a transradial diagnostic catheterization on a 60-year-old woman. After sheath placement and a single dose of intra-arterial verapamil and nitroglycerin, the operator advances a 5F diagnostic catheter over a 0.035-inch guidewire.
454 words, about 2 min5ST Elevation on the Monitor During a Diagnostic Case
A 63-year-old man with hypertension and a 40-pack-year smoking history is undergoing elective diagnostic catheterization for stable angina. During engagement of the left main with a 6F catheter, the patient reports chest pressure.
555 words, about 3 min