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CSC blueprint
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Avg pass rate for those
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1500+
Questions in CSC
Question Bank
4
CSC predictor exams
that gauge exam readiness
100%
Questions follow
CSC blueprint
98%
Avg pass rate for those
who complete the whole course
Exam Sections Covered in BoardCerts CSC Question Bank
Comprehensive coverage of all exam domains with detailed topic breakdowns to ensure your success.
Procedures
Key topics and concepts covered in this module
Coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) with cardiopulmonary bypass
Coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) without cardiopulmonary bypass
Cox maze and modified maze procedure
Minimally invasive cardiac surgery
Pericardial window
Repair of non-congenital heart defects (e.g., left-ventricular aneurysm, VSD post MI)
Surgical valve repair or replacement
Transcatheter valve replacement (e.g., TAVR)
Endovascular repair of the aorta
Open repair of thoracic aortic aneurysm or dissection
Exam blueprint areas coveredCSC
Complications
Key topics and concepts covered in this module
Cardiogenic shock
Hypotension and hypertension
Hypovolemia and hypervolemia
Bleeding
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial stunning
Open chest from the operating room
Pericarditis
Dysrhythmias
Right heart failure
Cardiac tamponade
Vascular complications (e.g., compartment syndrome, retroperitoneal bleeding)
Acute respiratory failure
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI)
Transfusion-associated circulatory overload (TACO)
Pleural space abnormalities (e.g., pneumothorax)
Air-leak syndromes (e.g., pneumopericardium, pneumomediastinum)
Aspiration
Atelectasis
Pleural effusion
Prolonged mechanical ventilation
Pulmonary hypertension
Hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia
Protamine reactions
Coagulopathies
Anemia
Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT)
Postoperative impaired cognition
Cerebrovascular accident (stroke)
Lower limb deficits (e.g., spinal cord ischemia, paralysis)
Delirium
Ischemic bowel
Acute kidney injury
Electrolyte imbalances
Multisystem organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS)
Chronic pain
Acute pain
Acid-base imbalances
Malignant hyperthermia
Preexisting behavioral health disorder (e.g., anxiety, PTSD)
Substance use and withdrawal
Exam blueprint areas coveredCSC
Therapeutic Interventions
Key topics and concepts covered in this module
Fluid volume management specific to cardiac surgery
Defibrillation and cardioversion
Emergent resternotomy
Cardiac surgery advanced life support (CALS)
Temporary pacing
Intra-aortic balloon pump
Short-term ventricular assist devices (VADs)
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)
Pericardial and mediastinal drain
Pleural chest tubes and drains
Invasive and non-invasive mechanical ventilation
Oxygen therapy delivery devices
Platelet inhibitors
Thrombolytics
Anticoagulants
Vasoactive agents
Antidysrhythmics
Inotropes
Diuretics
Beta-blockers
Statins
Pharmacologic agents for controlling bleeding (e.g., desmopressin acetate, factor VII, antifibrinolytics)
Pulmonary vasodilators
Sedation
Neuromuscular blockade
Glycemic control
Blood and blood products
Lumbar drain
Pain management
Renal replacement therapy (e.g., hemodialysis, CRRT)
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis
Early mobility protocols
Gastrointestinal (GI) prophylaxis
Surgical site protocols
Recovery from anesthesia
Rewarming from hypothermia
Pneumonia prevention
Exam blueprint areas coveredCSC
Monitoring and Diagnostics
Key topics and concepts covered in this module
Hemodynamic monitoring
Echocardiography
Electrocardiography (ECG)
Laboratory testing
Arterial blood gas (ABG)
Mixed venous gas
Pulse oximetry
Capnography
Radiography
Bispectral index monitoring (BIS)
Cerebral oximetry monitoring
Train-of-four (TOF)
Exam blueprint areas coveredCSC
Exam Sections Covered in BoardCerts CSC Question Bank
Comprehensive coverage of all exam domains with detailed topic breakdowns to ensure your success.
SECTION 1
Procedures
- Coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) with cardiopulmonary bypass
- Coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) without cardiopulmonary bypass
- Cox maze and modified maze procedure
- Minimally invasive cardiac surgery
- Pericardial window
- Repair of non-congenital heart defects (e.g., left-ventricular aneurysm, VSD post MI)
- Surgical valve repair or replacement
- Transcatheter valve replacement (e.g., TAVR)
- Endovascular repair of the aorta
- Open repair of thoracic aortic aneurysm or dissection
Exam blueprint areas coveredCSC
SECTION 2
Complications
- Cardiogenic shock
- Hypotension and hypertension
- Hypovolemia and hypervolemia
- Bleeding
- Myocardial infarction
- Myocardial stunning
- Open chest from the operating room
- Pericarditis
- Dysrhythmias
- Right heart failure
- Cardiac tamponade
- Vascular complications (e.g., compartment syndrome, retroperitoneal bleeding)
- Acute respiratory failure
- Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
- Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI)
- Transfusion-associated circulatory overload (TACO)
- Pleural space abnormalities (e.g., pneumothorax)
- Air-leak syndromes (e.g., pneumopericardium, pneumomediastinum)
- Aspiration
- Atelectasis
- Pleural effusion
- Prolonged mechanical ventilation
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia
- Protamine reactions
- Coagulopathies
- Anemia
- Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT)
- Postoperative impaired cognition
- Cerebrovascular accident (stroke)
- Lower limb deficits (e.g., spinal cord ischemia, paralysis)
- Delirium
- Ischemic bowel
- Acute kidney injury
- Electrolyte imbalances
- Multisystem organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS)
- Chronic pain
- Acute pain
- Acid-base imbalances
- Malignant hyperthermia
- Preexisting behavioral health disorder (e.g., anxiety, PTSD)
- Substance use and withdrawal
Exam blueprint areas coveredCSC
SECTION 3
Therapeutic Interventions
- Fluid volume management specific to cardiac surgery
- Defibrillation and cardioversion
- Emergent resternotomy
- Cardiac surgery advanced life support (CALS)
- Temporary pacing
- Intra-aortic balloon pump
- Short-term ventricular assist devices (VADs)
- Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)
- Pericardial and mediastinal drain
- Pleural chest tubes and drains
- Invasive and non-invasive mechanical ventilation
- Oxygen therapy delivery devices
- Platelet inhibitors
- Thrombolytics
- Anticoagulants
- Vasoactive agents
- Antidysrhythmics
- Inotropes
- Diuretics
- Beta-blockers
- Statins
- Pharmacologic agents for controlling bleeding (e.g., desmopressin acetate, factor VII, antifibrinolytics)
- Pulmonary vasodilators
- Sedation
- Neuromuscular blockade
- Glycemic control
- Blood and blood products
- Lumbar drain
- Pain management
- Renal replacement therapy (e.g., hemodialysis, CRRT)
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis
- Early mobility protocols
- Gastrointestinal (GI) prophylaxis
- Surgical site protocols
- Recovery from anesthesia
- Rewarming from hypothermia
- Pneumonia prevention
Exam blueprint areas coveredCSC
SECTION 4
Monitoring and Diagnostics
- Hemodynamic monitoring
- Echocardiography
- Electrocardiography (ECG)
- Laboratory testing
- Arterial blood gas (ABG)
- Mixed venous gas
- Pulse oximetry
- Capnography
- Radiography
- Bispectral index monitoring (BIS)
- Cerebral oximetry monitoring
- Train-of-four (TOF)
Exam blueprint areas coveredCSC
Content Creation Process
Our rigorous multi-step review process ensures the highest quality medical content
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Reviewer
2
Editor(Board Certified RN, NP or CNS)
3
Senior Editor(Physician or NP)
4
Approval
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Resources and Preparation
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