Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS) Practice Test

Which catheter design is most similar to the Impella catheter?

1. Pigtail

2. Balloon

3. Triple lumen

4. Introducer

The correct answer is: Pigtail

The correct answer is that the Impella catheter is most similar to the pigtail catheter in terms of its design and function. Both catheters share a similar shape that facilitates fluid flow and provides support for specific medical interventions. The pigtail catheter is named for its coiled shape, which allows for the efficient drainage of fluids in various medical contexts, much like the Impella catheter, which is designed to assist with ventricular support by actively drawing blood from the heart and ejecting it into the aorta. In contrast, other catheter designs serve different purposes. The balloon catheter, for instance, typically includes a balloon at its tip that can be inflated to obstruct or compress vessels or areas in the body, which is not a function shared by the Impella catheter. The triple lumen catheter is characterized by three separate passages for the simultaneous infusion of fluids or medications, but it lacks the specific design of a pigtail or the active support mechanism of the Impella. Lastly, the introducer catheter is designed primarily to allow access to the vascular system for additional procedures rather than for the active function of assisting with hemodynamic support like the Impella. Thus, the design features and functional roles of the pigtail and Impella catheters