Exam Content Outline

Cardiovascular Credentialing International publishes its exam outlines and other important information on its website (www.cci-online.org). Visit the site for complete information about applying for and taking the registry examinations. The outline for each exam indicates the approximate percentage of the exam that a particular topic represents. This information is important because it indicates the relative importance of each topic and allows you to study more effectively. For example, Anatomy and Physiology is 18% of the exam, whereas the Advanced Techniques is 5%.

The complete outline for the Registered Vascular Specialist Examination appears below.

A. Anatomy and Physiology (18%)
I. Arterial         A. Aorta              1. ascending              2. descending              3. branches         B. Lower extremity arteries         C. Upper extremity arteries         D. Abdominal vasculature         E. Cerebral extracranial arteries    II. Venous         A. Abdominal venous system (vena cava, portal, mesenteric             and renal veins)         B. Lower extremity veins (deep, superficial and perforators)         C. Upper extremity veins (deep and superficial)
B. Patient Assessment (6%)
I. Obtaining patient history         A. Chronic arterial occlusive disease         B. Acute arterial occlusive disease         C. Cold sensitivity         D. Hypertension         E. Ischemia         F. Stroke         G. Diabetes         H. Hyperlipidemia         I. Transient symptoms         J. Previous surgery         K. Previous or related non-invasive testing         L. Chronic venous insufficiency         M. Acute vein thrombosis         N. Related medication         O. Cardiac history and surgery    II. Obtaining Risk Factors         A. Age         B. Smoking         C. Trauma         D. Previous DVT         E. Bed-rest patient         F. Carcinoma         G. Diabetes         H. Hypertension         I. Hyperlipidemia         J. Recent surgery         K. Pregnancy         L. Birth control pills         M. Varicose veins         N. Obesity         O. Cardiac disease    III. Indications for Arterial and Venous Non-invasive Procedures    IV. Signs and Symptoms    V. Physical Examination         A. Skin changes         B. Palpating for pulses and aneurysms         C. Lymphedema         D. Venous ulcerations         E. Auscultation for bruits         F. Pulses
C. Disease States (18%)
I. Venous Disease         A. Pathology              1. peripheral venous diseases              2. central venous diseases         B. Preliminary information              1. acute deep vein thrombosis              2. chronic venous insufficiency         C. Interpretation of venous disease with non-invasive testing              1. Diagnostic indications/values              2. Diagnostic criteria              3. Limitations of interpretation         D. Discerning pathology and artifact         E. Valvular disease         F. Thrombosis              1. Location              2. Characteristics         G. Ambulatory hypertension         H. AV fistula    II. Arterial Disease         A. Pathology of peripheral vascular disease         B. Pathology of central arterial disease         C. Preliminary information              1. Acute arterial disease              2. Chronic arterial disease         D. Interpretation of arterial disease with non-invasive testing              1. Diagnostic indications/values              2. Diagnostic criteria              3. Limitations of interpretation         E. Discerning pathology and artifact         F. Atherosclerosis         G. Hematomas         H. Embolism         I. Entrapment syndromes         J. Atriovenous fistulas              1. Thoracic outlet syndrome         K. Raynaud's syndrome         L. Arteritis    III. Cerebrovascular Disease         A. Pathology of the cerebrovascular system         B. Interpretation of cerebrovascular disease with              non-invasive testing              1. Diagnostic indications/values              2. Diagnostic criteria              3. Limitations of interpretation         C. Discerning pathology and artifact         D. Atherosclerosis         E. Hemorrhage         F. Morphology         G. Ulceration         H. Masses and aneurysms         I. Stenosis         J. Embolism         K. Subclavian steal              1. Stroke
D. Evaluation of Blood Flow (28%)
I. Venous         A. Normals – Venous Flow              1. Hemodynamics                   a. Peripheral                   b. Central              2. Portal vein flow         B. Flow Patterns in Venous Disease              1. Acute              2. Chronic         C. Interpretation of abnormal flow patterns         D. Collateral circulation         E. Non-invasive Venous Testing         F. Patient positioning         G. Transducer positioning    II. Arterial         A. Normals – Arterial Flow              1. Hemodynamics                   a. Central                   b. Peripheral                   c. Abdominal         B. Waveforms              1. Spectral              2. Analog         C. Flow Patterns              1. Normal              2. Abnormal         D. Pressures              1. Lower extremities              2. Upper extremities         E. Non-invasive Arterial Testing              1. Continuous wave Doppler              2. Duplex imaging                   a. 13-mode                   b. Doppler                   c. Color         F. Patient positioning         G. Transducer positioning         H. Criteria for diagnosis of hemodynamically significant disease    III. Cerebrovascular Disease         A. Normal hemodynamics         B. Abnormal flow         C. Waveform analysis         D. Systolic and diastolic velocities         E. Criteria for diagnosis         F. Non-invasive Cerebrovascular Testing              1. Duplex imaging                   a. B-mode                   b. Doppler                   c. Color         G. Patient positioning         H. Transducer positioning
E. Advanced Techniques (5%)
I. Transcranial Doppler         A. Techniques         B. Indications         C. Flow velocities in the intracranial arteries              1. Normal              2. Abnormal              3. Direction of flow
F. Vascular Surgery/Intervention (5%)
I. Carotid Endarectomy         A. Intraoperative survey         B. Postoperative survey    II. Bypass Grafts         A. Types         B. Flow patterns              1. Normal              2. Abnormal    III. Percutaneous Intervention         A. Angioplasty         B. Stents    IV. Venography         A. Methods         B. Interpretation    V. Arteriography         A. Methods         B. Interpretation

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