Free Registered Phlebology Sonographer (RPhS) examination Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the Registered Phlebology Sonographer (RPhS) examination practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1Before a venous duplex study, which pair most directly implements the SVU guideline's named patient-identity check?

   1. A.Name and examination-room number
   2. B.Name and date of birthCorrect answer: B
   3. C.Date of birth and referring diagnosis
   4. D.Age and scheduled examination time

   Explanation: SVU instructs the examiner to “Verify the patient’s name and date of birth”. Thus name plus date of birth identifies the patient; a room number, diagnosis, age, or appointment time does not supply that specified pair.

   Reference: SVU Lower Extremity Venous Duplex Evaluation for Obstruction — Patient Communication

2. 2A patient with a recent leg DVT develops sudden difficulty breathing and chest pain that worsens on inspiration. Which response best fits this presentation?

   1. A.Arrange routine reassessment after the next scheduled scan
   2. B.Initiate immediate medical evaluation for possible pulmonary embolismCorrect answer: B
   3. C.Reassure the patient if the leg swelling has improved
   4. D.Treat the symptoms as isolated chronic venous reflux

   Explanation: CDC lists “Difficulty breathing” and pleuritic chest discomfort among PE symptoms and says to “seek medical help immediately.” Routine delay, reassurance based on improved leg symptoms, and treating this as reflux fail to address a possible life-threatening PE.

   Reference: CDC About Venous Thromboembolism — Signs and symptoms: PE

3. 3A patient has chronic ankle edema, venous stasis dermatitis, and visible varicosities. The clinician wants to identify the source and pathway of retrograde venous flow. Which examination addresses that question?

   1. A.Lower extremity arterial physiologic testing
   2. B.Lower extremity venous insufficiency duplexCorrect answer: B
   3. C.Upper extremity venous obstruction duplex
   4. D.Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening

   Explanation: The SVU indication list includes “Stasis dermatitis or skin pigmentation of presumed venous origin.” A venous insufficiency duplex evaluates the suspected reflux. Arterial physiologic testing evaluates arterial perfusion; an arm study examines another territory; aortic screening does not characterize leg venous reflux.

   Reference: SVU Lower Extremity Venous Insufficiency Evaluation — Appropriate Indications; Purpose

4. 4Which effect should be explained as the role of compression stockings in managing varicose-vein symptoms?

   1. A.Thermally closing the incompetent truncal vein
   2. B.Relieving swelling and discomfort through external pressureCorrect answer: B
   3. C.Chemically sclerosing the incompetent truncal vein
   4. D.Removing a varicose tributary through a skin incision

   Explanation: NHLBI states “Compression therapy only relieves symptoms.” External support helps swelling and discomfort; it is distinct from thermal ablation, chemical sclerotherapy, and phlebectomy. Stockings do not themselves perform those vein-closing or removal procedures.

   Reference: NHLBI Varicose Veins — Compression therapy

5. 5What is the intended action of laser or radiofrequency energy in endovenous thermal ablation?

   1. A.Open the vein by stretching its wall
   2. B.Heat the vein to close itCorrect answer: B
   3. C.Remove the vein through a surgical hook
   4. D.Dissolve an acute clot with a fibrinolytic drug

   Explanation: NHLBI describes energy used to “heat the inside of the vein and close it off.” Balloon expansion, hook removal, and thrombolytic drug action describe different procedures. Thermal ablation targets closure of the incompetent superficial vein.

   Reference: NHLBI Varicose Veins — Procedures—Endovenous ablation

6. 6After finishing a patient's examination, a sonographer removes intact disposable gloves. What should occur before beginning care of the next patient?

   1. A.Hand hygiene only if a glove was torn
   2. B.Hand hygiene only if the hands look dirty
   3. C.Don a new pair of gloves without cleaning the hands
   4. D.Perform hand hygiene after glove removalCorrect answer: D

   Explanation: CDC states, “Always clean your hands after removing gloves.” Intact gloves and visibly clean hands do not remove this requirement, and putting on new gloves does not substitute for hand hygiene.

   Reference: CDC Clinical Safety: Hand Hygiene for Healthcare Workers — Know when to wear (and change) gloves

7. 7A patient awaiting a routine reflux study reports new unilateral calf swelling, tenderness, warmth, and discoloration. Which action is most appropriate?

   1. A.Continue only the routine reflux assessment without alerting the clinician
   2. B.Reassure the patient because DVT always produces breathlessness
   3. C.Promptly alert the clinician for assessment of suspected DVTCorrect answer: C
   4. D.Defer any assessment until the swelling has been present for a month

   Explanation: CDC identifies “Swelling”, “Pain or tenderness”, “Warmth”, and “Redness or discoloration” as DVT findings and advises seeing a doctor as soon as possible. DVT need not cause breathlessness, and neither a routine-only scan nor a month-long delay addresses the new presentation.

   Reference: CDC About Venous Thromboembolism — Signs and symptoms: DVT

8. 8An order requests evaluation of a possible venous source of pulmonary embolism in a patient whose new swelling and tenderness are confined to an arm. Which vascular examination is appropriate for that territory?

   1. A.Upper extremity arterial duplex for inflow disease
   2. B.Upper extremity nerve ultrasound for entrapment
   3. C.Upper extremity venous duplex for obstructionCorrect answer: C
   4. D.Upper extremity vein mapping for dialysis access planning

   Explanation: SVU lists “Documentation of a source for pulmonary embolism (PE)” as an upper venous obstruction-study indication. The symptomatic arm should be assessed for thrombosis. Arterial inflow and nerve examinations answer different questions; dialysis-access mapping serves preoperative access planning rather than the requested diagnostic thrombosis evaluation.

   Reference: SVU Upper Extremity Venous Duplex Evaluation for Obstruction — Purpose and Appropriate Indications

9. 9Which mechanism distinguishes a pneumatic compression pump from a static compression garment or manual lymph drainage?

   1. A.A garment maintains continuous elastic support
   2. B.A powered sleeve applies pressure intermittentlyCorrect answer: B
   3. C.A therapist uses gentle manual massage
   4. D.A fixed short-stretch bandage supports the limb

   Explanation: NCI describes the pump as a device that “applies pressure intermittently to the arm or leg.” Static elastic garments and fixed bandages provide other compression approaches, while manual lymph drainage uses gentle hand massage rather than a powered intermittent sleeve.

   Reference: NCI Lymphedema — How is lymphedema treated?—Compression pump

10. 10Which instrument is used to remove a superficial varicose vein through tiny skin incisions during ambulatory phlebectomy?

    1. A.An intravascular ultrasound catheter
    2. B.A balloon angioplasty catheter
    3. C.A phlebectomy hookCorrect answer: C
    4. D.A radiofrequency electrode

    Explanation: RadiologyInfo describes a “phlebectomy hook” used to remove the vein through a tiny incision. IVUS images vessels, a balloon expands a lumen, and an RF electrode delivers thermal energy; none is the hook used for this extraction.

    Reference: ACR/RSNA Phlebectomy of Varicose Veins — What does the equipment look like?