CRAT case studies
CRAT · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The Certified Rhythm Analysis Technician (CRAT) is a credential listed by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI), a credentialing body for cardiovascular professionals. CRAT sits alongside CCI's other credentials, including the Certified Cardiographic Technician (CCT), Registered Cardiac Electrophysiology Specialist (RCES), and Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS). It is intended for technicians whose work centers on recognizing and documenting heart rhythms, typically from continuous bedside monitoring, telemetry, and Holter or event-monitor recordings rather than from diagnostic echocardiography or invasive procedures. Candidates are often monitor technicians, telemetry technicians, cardiac technicians, or students in cardiovascular technology programs who want external validation of rhythm-recognition skills before or alongside clinical employment. The CRAT case studies are 5 cases and about 3,744 words.
1A 4.6-Second Pause on the Overnight Monitor
At 02:40, a telemetry technician covering 42 beds observes an alarm on a 68-year-old man, postoperative day 2 after open cholecystectomy. He is asleep and has been stable, with a heart rate in the 70s.
827 words, about 4 min2Missed Dialysis and a Widening QRS
A 61-year-old woman with type 2 diabetes and stage 4 chronic kidney disease (baseline creatinine 3.4 mg/dL) is admitted with nausea and generalized weakness. She missed two hemodialysis sessions, and the chemistry panel sent 25 minutes ago is still pending; yesterday's potassium was 5.2 mmol/L.
777 words, about 4 min3Negative P Waves in Lead I
A 34-year-old man is admitted with pneumonia. The admitting technician obtains a 12-lead ECG with standard limb lead placement and precordial leads in the usual V1-V6 positions.
760 words, about 4 min4Pacing Spikes Without Capture After Pacemaker Insertion
A 79-year-old woman received a dual-chamber pacemaker 6 hours ago for complete AV block. Telemetry shows atrial pacing spikes at 70/min followed by P waves, and ventricular pacing spikes at 70/min with no QRS complex after most spikes; the underlying ventricular escape rhythm is 34 beats/min and wide.
676 words, about 3 min5Grouped Beating That Looks Like Wenckebach
A 72-year-old woman with hypertension and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation is on telemetry after a hip replacement. The technician observes grouped beating: groups of three narrow QRS complexes followed by a pause, repeating.
704 words, about 4 min