Progressive Care Nursing Certification (PCCN) Practice Exam

Systolic left ventricular dysfunction is characterized by:

1. The impaired ability of the left ventricle to fill

2. The impaired ability of the left ventricle to contract and effectively eject blood

3. Heart failure with elevated systolic blood pressure

4. Heart failure where the heart stops beating

The correct answer is: The impaired ability of the left ventricle to contract and effectively eject blood

Systolic left ventricular dysfunction is primarily characterized by the impaired ability of the left ventricle to contract effectively. This dysfunction leads to an inadequate pumping action during systole, which is the phase of the heart cycle when the heart muscle contracts and pumps blood out of the chambers. The result is a decreased ejection fraction, meaning less blood is being pushed into circulation with each heartbeat. This impaired contraction can lead to symptoms of heart failure, such as shortness of breath, fatigue, and fluid retention, due to decreased cardiac output and inadequate perfusion of tissues. Filling issues are more related to diastolic dysfunction, which involves problems with the heart's ability to fill properly, rather than contract. While elevated systolic blood pressure can accompany heart failure, it is not a defining characteristic of systolic left ventricular dysfunction specifically. Heart failure where the heart stops beating describes a different and more acute clinical scenario, such as cardiac arrest, rather than a dysfunction characterized by impaired contraction.