ABP Pediatric Cardiology Certification
Examination – Full-Length Practice
Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
1. Which congenital heart defect is most commonly associated with
trisomy 21?
A. Tetralogy of Fallot
B. Transposition of the great arteries
C. Atrioventricular septal defect
D. Coarctation of the aorta
Atrioventricular septal defects are strongly associated with Down
syndrome due to abnormal endocardial cushion development.
2. The most common cause of heart failure in infants is:
A. Restrictive cardiomyopathy
, B. Arrhythmia
C. Congenital heart disease
D. Myocarditis
Structural heart defects leading to volume or pressure overload are the
leading cause of infant heart failure.
3. Which finding is characteristic of Tetralogy of Fallot?
A. Increased pulmonary blood flow
B. Right ventricular outflow tract obstruction
C. Left ventricular hypertrophy
D. Pulmonary venous obstruction
Right ventricular outflow obstruction is one of the four defining
components of Tetralogy of Fallot.
4. A continuous “machinery” murmur is most consistent with:
A. Ventricular septal defect
B. Aortic stenosis
C. Patent ductus arteriosus
D. Pulmonary stenosis
Patent ductus arteriosus produces continuous flow between the aorta and
pulmonary artery throughout the cardiac cycle.
, 5. Which lesion results in decreased pulmonary blood flow?
A. Atrial septal defect
B. Ventricular septal defect
C. Tricuspid atresia
D. Total anomalous pulmonary venous return
Tricuspid atresia limits blood flow to the lungs, resulting in cyanosis.
6. The most common cause of sudden cardiac death in adolescents is:
A. Dilated cardiomyopathy
B. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
C. Long QT syndrome
D. Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the leading cause of sudden death during
exertion in adolescents.
7. Which ECG finding is typical of atrial septal defect?
A. Left axis deviation
B. Right axis deviation
C. Prolonged QT interval
D. ST segment elevation
Right-sided volume overload in ASD leads to right axis deviation.
, 8. A neonate with cyanosis unresponsive to oxygen likely has:
A. Pulmonary hypertension
B. Cyanotic congenital heart disease
C. Pneumonia
D. Anemia
Failure to respond to oxygen suggests a cardiac right-to-left shunt.
9. Prostaglandin E1 infusion is used to:
A. Close the ductus arteriosus
B. Maintain ductal patency
C. Reduce pulmonary pressure
D. Treat arrhythmias
Prostaglandin E1 keeps the ductus arteriosus open in ductal-dependent
lesions.
10. Which condition is associated with a fixed split S2?
A. Mitral regurgitation
B. Atrial septal defect
C. Aortic stenosis
D. Ventricular septal defect
ASD causes constant right ventricular filling, leading to fixed splitting of S2.
Examination – Full-Length Practice
Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
1. Which congenital heart defect is most commonly associated with
trisomy 21?
A. Tetralogy of Fallot
B. Transposition of the great arteries
C. Atrioventricular septal defect
D. Coarctation of the aorta
Atrioventricular septal defects are strongly associated with Down
syndrome due to abnormal endocardial cushion development.
2. The most common cause of heart failure in infants is:
A. Restrictive cardiomyopathy
, B. Arrhythmia
C. Congenital heart disease
D. Myocarditis
Structural heart defects leading to volume or pressure overload are the
leading cause of infant heart failure.
3. Which finding is characteristic of Tetralogy of Fallot?
A. Increased pulmonary blood flow
B. Right ventricular outflow tract obstruction
C. Left ventricular hypertrophy
D. Pulmonary venous obstruction
Right ventricular outflow obstruction is one of the four defining
components of Tetralogy of Fallot.
4. A continuous “machinery” murmur is most consistent with:
A. Ventricular septal defect
B. Aortic stenosis
C. Patent ductus arteriosus
D. Pulmonary stenosis
Patent ductus arteriosus produces continuous flow between the aorta and
pulmonary artery throughout the cardiac cycle.
, 5. Which lesion results in decreased pulmonary blood flow?
A. Atrial septal defect
B. Ventricular septal defect
C. Tricuspid atresia
D. Total anomalous pulmonary venous return
Tricuspid atresia limits blood flow to the lungs, resulting in cyanosis.
6. The most common cause of sudden cardiac death in adolescents is:
A. Dilated cardiomyopathy
B. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
C. Long QT syndrome
D. Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the leading cause of sudden death during
exertion in adolescents.
7. Which ECG finding is typical of atrial septal defect?
A. Left axis deviation
B. Right axis deviation
C. Prolonged QT interval
D. ST segment elevation
Right-sided volume overload in ASD leads to right axis deviation.
, 8. A neonate with cyanosis unresponsive to oxygen likely has:
A. Pulmonary hypertension
B. Cyanotic congenital heart disease
C. Pneumonia
D. Anemia
Failure to respond to oxygen suggests a cardiac right-to-left shunt.
9. Prostaglandin E1 infusion is used to:
A. Close the ductus arteriosus
B. Maintain ductal patency
C. Reduce pulmonary pressure
D. Treat arrhythmias
Prostaglandin E1 keeps the ductus arteriosus open in ductal-dependent
lesions.
10. Which condition is associated with a fixed split S2?
A. Mitral regurgitation
B. Atrial septal defect
C. Aortic stenosis
D. Ventricular septal defect
ASD causes constant right ventricular filling, leading to fixed splitting of S2.
