RCIS Practice Test 2026 – All-in-One Exam Prep

The primary purpose of setting a "rate of rise" during a left ventricular (LV) angiogram is to manage catheter whip and limit ectopy. In this context, the "rate of rise" refers to how quickly the contrast agent is injected into the left ventricle. Adjusting this rate plays a crucial role in minimizing the dynamic movement of the catheter (often described as "whipping"), which can occur due to sudden changes in pressure or flow.

By controlling the rate of rise, the clinician can ensure a smoother injection of the contrast agent. This in turn helps to stabilize the catheter position, reducing the risk of causing ectopic beats (premature heartbeats) that might occur if the catheter is jostled too excessively during the injection. Therefore, managing the catheter whip and reducing the potential for ectopy are critical to ensuring the safety and accuracy of the angiographic procedure, allowing for clearer visualization of the cardiac structures without unintentionally provoking arrhythmias.

Adjusting the injection rate does not primarily aim to prolong the duration of the injection for the sake of visualization as might be suggested by other options, nor does it inherently focus on reducing contrast media usage, which could lead to suboptimal imaging. Furthermore, the intention is not