ABIM Interventional Cardiology
Certification Examination Practice
Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
1. Which of the following is the most common indication for
percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)?
A. Stable angina refractory to medical therapy
B. Acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)
C. Non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI)
D. Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) failure
A. Stable angina refractory to medical therapy
Rationale: PCI is most commonly performed for patients with stable angina
who remain symptomatic despite optimal medical therapy, though STEMI
is a common acute indication.
, 2. During PCI, which of the following antiplatelet regimens is
recommended before stent implantation?
A. Aspirin only
B. P2Y12 inhibitor only
C. Aspirin plus P2Y12 inhibitor
D. No antiplatelet therapy
C. Aspirin plus P2Y12 inhibitor
Rationale: Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with aspirin and a P2Y12
inhibitor is standard before and after stent placement to reduce stent
thrombosis risk.
3. Which coronary artery is most commonly affected in a STEMI?
A. Right coronary artery (RCA)
B. Left anterior descending (LAD) artery
C. Left circumflex (LCx) artery
D. Left main coronary artery
B. Left anterior descending (LAD) artery
Rationale: The LAD is the most frequently involved artery in acute STEMI,
particularly in anterior wall myocardial infarctions.
, 4. In patients with chronic total occlusion (CTO), which technique is
preferred for crossing the lesion?
A. Antegrade wire escalation
B. Retrograde approach via collaterals
C. Subintimal tracking and reentry
D. All of the above
D. All of the above
Rationale: CTO PCI can be approached with multiple strategies including
antegrade wire escalation, retrograde collateral crossing, and subintimal
techniques depending on lesion characteristics.
5. Which complication of PCI is most associated with contrast use?
A. Stent thrombosis
B. Contrast-induced nephropathy
C. Coronary dissection
D. Perforation
B. Contrast-induced nephropathy
Rationale: Contrast-induced nephropathy is a common complication,
especially in patients with pre-existing renal impairment.
6. Which imaging modality is most useful for guiding stent deployment
in complex lesions?
, A. Fluoroscopy
B. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)
C. Coronary CT angiography
D. Transthoracic echocardiography
B. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)
Rationale: IVUS provides detailed visualization of vessel size, plaque
morphology, and stent apposition, improving outcomes in complex PCI.
7. Which stent type is associated with lower rates of restenosis?
A. Bare-metal stent (BMS)
B. Drug-eluting stent (DES)
C. Bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS)
D. Balloon-expandable stent
B. Drug-eluting stent (DES)
Rationale: DES releases antiproliferative drugs that reduce neointimal
hyperplasia, lowering restenosis rates compared to BMS.
8. What is the most common access site complication after femoral
artery PCI?
A. Pseudoaneurysm
B. Arteriovenous fistula
Certification Examination Practice
Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
1. Which of the following is the most common indication for
percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)?
A. Stable angina refractory to medical therapy
B. Acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)
C. Non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI)
D. Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) failure
A. Stable angina refractory to medical therapy
Rationale: PCI is most commonly performed for patients with stable angina
who remain symptomatic despite optimal medical therapy, though STEMI
is a common acute indication.
, 2. During PCI, which of the following antiplatelet regimens is
recommended before stent implantation?
A. Aspirin only
B. P2Y12 inhibitor only
C. Aspirin plus P2Y12 inhibitor
D. No antiplatelet therapy
C. Aspirin plus P2Y12 inhibitor
Rationale: Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with aspirin and a P2Y12
inhibitor is standard before and after stent placement to reduce stent
thrombosis risk.
3. Which coronary artery is most commonly affected in a STEMI?
A. Right coronary artery (RCA)
B. Left anterior descending (LAD) artery
C. Left circumflex (LCx) artery
D. Left main coronary artery
B. Left anterior descending (LAD) artery
Rationale: The LAD is the most frequently involved artery in acute STEMI,
particularly in anterior wall myocardial infarctions.
, 4. In patients with chronic total occlusion (CTO), which technique is
preferred for crossing the lesion?
A. Antegrade wire escalation
B. Retrograde approach via collaterals
C. Subintimal tracking and reentry
D. All of the above
D. All of the above
Rationale: CTO PCI can be approached with multiple strategies including
antegrade wire escalation, retrograde collateral crossing, and subintimal
techniques depending on lesion characteristics.
5. Which complication of PCI is most associated with contrast use?
A. Stent thrombosis
B. Contrast-induced nephropathy
C. Coronary dissection
D. Perforation
B. Contrast-induced nephropathy
Rationale: Contrast-induced nephropathy is a common complication,
especially in patients with pre-existing renal impairment.
6. Which imaging modality is most useful for guiding stent deployment
in complex lesions?
, A. Fluoroscopy
B. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)
C. Coronary CT angiography
D. Transthoracic echocardiography
B. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)
Rationale: IVUS provides detailed visualization of vessel size, plaque
morphology, and stent apposition, improving outcomes in complex PCI.
7. Which stent type is associated with lower rates of restenosis?
A. Bare-metal stent (BMS)
B. Drug-eluting stent (DES)
C. Bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS)
D. Balloon-expandable stent
B. Drug-eluting stent (DES)
Rationale: DES releases antiproliferative drugs that reduce neointimal
hyperplasia, lowering restenosis rates compared to BMS.
8. What is the most common access site complication after femoral
artery PCI?
A. Pseudoaneurysm
B. Arteriovenous fistula
