PA-C: PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT CERTIFIED | EXAM COMPLETE QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST VERSION 2026/2027 PASS GUARANTEE
Q: What is the first-line medication for stable angina pectoris?
ANSWER Beta-blockers (e.g., metoprolol) or Nitrates.
Q: Which cardiac murmur is described as a holosystolic murmur that
radiates to the axilla and gets louder with handgrip?
ANSWER Mitral regurgitation.
Q: What is the classic presentation of a patient with an aortic dissection?
ANSWER Tearing chest pain radiating to the back, often with pulse
deficits or blood pressure discrepancy between arms.
Q: What EKG finding is pathognomonic for pericarditis?
ANSWER Diffuse ST-segment elevation and PR-segment depression.
Q: What is the most common cause of right-sided heart failure?
ANSWER Left-sided heart failure.
Q: A patient presents with syncope. On exam, you note a crescendo-
decrescendo systolic murmur radiating to the carotids. What is the likely
diagnosis?
ANSWER Aortic stenosis.
Q: What are the three components of Beck’s Triad in cardiac tamponade?
ANSWER Hypotension, muffled heart sounds, and jugular venous
distension (JVD).
Q: What is the drug of choice for terminating SVT (Supraventricular
Tachycardia) in a hemodynamically stable patient?
,ANSWER Adenosine.
Q: Which cardiac enzyme rises first (within 3-4 hours) during an acute
myocardial infarction?
ANSWER Troponin I or T.
Q: What is the treatment for uncomplicated acute pericarditis?
ANSWER NSAIDs (e.g., Ibuprofen) plus Colchicine.
Q: What is the most appropriate initial pharmacologic therapy for a
patient with systolic heart failure (HFrEF) to reduce mortality?
ANSWER ACE Inhibitors (or ARBs/ARNIs).
Q: What is the most common cause of infective endocarditis in IV drug
users?
ANSWER Staphylococcus aureus.
Q: What ECG rhythm is characterized by an irregularly irregular rhythm
and absent P waves?
ANSWER Atrial Fibrillation.
Q: What is the indicated management for a patient with Atrial Fibrillation
and unstable hemodynamics (hypotension, chest pain)?
ANSWER Synchronized cardioversion.
Q: What is the most common location of atherosclerotic plaque rupture
leading to MI?
ANSWER The left anterior descending (LAD) artery.
Q: What physical exam maneuver increases the intensity of a hypertrophic
cardiomyopathy murmur?
ANSWER Valsalva maneuver (standing from squatting also works).
Q: What is the defining characteristic of Third-Degree Heart Block on
ECG?
ANSWER Complete dissociation between P waves and QRS complexes.
Q: What is Wells' Criteria used for?
ANSWER Assessing the pre-test probability of a Pulmonary Embolism
(PE).
, Q: What is the primary treatment for a ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction
(STEMI)?
ANSWER Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) or Thrombolytics
(fibrinolytics) if PCI is not available within 120 minutes.
Q: What is the most common congenital heart defect in adults?
ANSWER Atrial Septal Defect (ASD).
Q: What is the classic sign of coarctation of the aorta?
ANSWER Radio-femoral delay (brachial-radial delay) and rib notching on
CXR.
Q: What medication is contraindicated in patients with HFrEF (Heart
Failure with reduced Ejection Fraction)?
ANSWER Non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (e.g., Diltiazem,
Verapamil).
Q: What is Kussmaul’s sign associated with?
ANSWER Constrictive pericarditis or cardiac tamponade (JVD rises on
inspiration).
Q: What is the first-line antiarrhythmic for long-term management of
Atrial Fibrillation?
ANSWER Amiodarone (though rate control is often preferred over
rhythm control).
Q: A patient has a positive troponin but no occlusion on angiography; they
recently had a viral illness. What is the diagnosis?
ANSWER Myocarditis.
Part 2: Pulmonology (26-50)
Q: What is the most common cause of community-acquired pneumonia
(CAP)?
ANSWER Streptococcus pneumoniae.
Q: What is the gold standard test for diagnosing Pulmonary Embolism
(PE)?
ANSWER CT Angiogram (CTA).
AND CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST VERSION 2026/2027 PASS GUARANTEE
Q: What is the first-line medication for stable angina pectoris?
ANSWER Beta-blockers (e.g., metoprolol) or Nitrates.
Q: Which cardiac murmur is described as a holosystolic murmur that
radiates to the axilla and gets louder with handgrip?
ANSWER Mitral regurgitation.
Q: What is the classic presentation of a patient with an aortic dissection?
ANSWER Tearing chest pain radiating to the back, often with pulse
deficits or blood pressure discrepancy between arms.
Q: What EKG finding is pathognomonic for pericarditis?
ANSWER Diffuse ST-segment elevation and PR-segment depression.
Q: What is the most common cause of right-sided heart failure?
ANSWER Left-sided heart failure.
Q: A patient presents with syncope. On exam, you note a crescendo-
decrescendo systolic murmur radiating to the carotids. What is the likely
diagnosis?
ANSWER Aortic stenosis.
Q: What are the three components of Beck’s Triad in cardiac tamponade?
ANSWER Hypotension, muffled heart sounds, and jugular venous
distension (JVD).
Q: What is the drug of choice for terminating SVT (Supraventricular
Tachycardia) in a hemodynamically stable patient?
,ANSWER Adenosine.
Q: Which cardiac enzyme rises first (within 3-4 hours) during an acute
myocardial infarction?
ANSWER Troponin I or T.
Q: What is the treatment for uncomplicated acute pericarditis?
ANSWER NSAIDs (e.g., Ibuprofen) plus Colchicine.
Q: What is the most appropriate initial pharmacologic therapy for a
patient with systolic heart failure (HFrEF) to reduce mortality?
ANSWER ACE Inhibitors (or ARBs/ARNIs).
Q: What is the most common cause of infective endocarditis in IV drug
users?
ANSWER Staphylococcus aureus.
Q: What ECG rhythm is characterized by an irregularly irregular rhythm
and absent P waves?
ANSWER Atrial Fibrillation.
Q: What is the indicated management for a patient with Atrial Fibrillation
and unstable hemodynamics (hypotension, chest pain)?
ANSWER Synchronized cardioversion.
Q: What is the most common location of atherosclerotic plaque rupture
leading to MI?
ANSWER The left anterior descending (LAD) artery.
Q: What physical exam maneuver increases the intensity of a hypertrophic
cardiomyopathy murmur?
ANSWER Valsalva maneuver (standing from squatting also works).
Q: What is the defining characteristic of Third-Degree Heart Block on
ECG?
ANSWER Complete dissociation between P waves and QRS complexes.
Q: What is Wells' Criteria used for?
ANSWER Assessing the pre-test probability of a Pulmonary Embolism
(PE).
, Q: What is the primary treatment for a ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction
(STEMI)?
ANSWER Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) or Thrombolytics
(fibrinolytics) if PCI is not available within 120 minutes.
Q: What is the most common congenital heart defect in adults?
ANSWER Atrial Septal Defect (ASD).
Q: What is the classic sign of coarctation of the aorta?
ANSWER Radio-femoral delay (brachial-radial delay) and rib notching on
CXR.
Q: What medication is contraindicated in patients with HFrEF (Heart
Failure with reduced Ejection Fraction)?
ANSWER Non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (e.g., Diltiazem,
Verapamil).
Q: What is Kussmaul’s sign associated with?
ANSWER Constrictive pericarditis or cardiac tamponade (JVD rises on
inspiration).
Q: What is the first-line antiarrhythmic for long-term management of
Atrial Fibrillation?
ANSWER Amiodarone (though rate control is often preferred over
rhythm control).
Q: A patient has a positive troponin but no occlusion on angiography; they
recently had a viral illness. What is the diagnosis?
ANSWER Myocarditis.
Part 2: Pulmonology (26-50)
Q: What is the most common cause of community-acquired pneumonia
(CAP)?
ANSWER Streptococcus pneumoniae.
Q: What is the gold standard test for diagnosing Pulmonary Embolism
(PE)?
ANSWER CT Angiogram (CTA).
