Cardiology Boards ABIM Review Exam
Questions and Answers Verified Solutions
Latest Update 2026/2027
Question:
When to stop a stress test.
Answer:
St segment depression > 2 mm, ventricular tachycardia, drop in SBP > 15, chest pain, dyspnea,
lightheadedness
Question:
Stress test of choice with a LBBB or ventricular pacing?.
Answer:
Myocardial perfusion imaging with adenosine,NOT exercising!
Question:
Know the algorithm for stress testing.
Answer:
See page 5-3,figure 5- 1
Question:
When to not use doutamine for stress.
Answer:
History of VT, severe HTN, Low BP, poor echo images
Question:
When to not use adenosine for stress.
,Answer:
Bronchospasm, severe valvular dysfunction, severe carotid stenosis, 2nd degree heart block,
theophylline dependent
Question:
Normals for PA catheter pressures.
Answer:
RA <7, RV 30/7, PCWP 3-11
Question:
PA cath findings in tamponade or restrictive pericarditis.
Answer:
Diastolic pressures elevated and equalized in all chambers, low BP
Question:
PA cath findings with RV AMI.
Answer:
Elevated RA and PA pressures, decreased or nl PCWP, hypotension, and inferior MI. R side is
decompensated, cannot fill L side of the heart
Question:
PA cath findings in cardiogenic shock.
Answer:
Elevated PCWP, RA pressure, and decreased SBP/cardiac output
Question:
PA cath findings in mitral stenosis with RV failure.
Answer:
,Elevated RA, PA (very elevated), PCWP, nl SBP
Question:
PA cath findings in pulmonary HTN.
Answer:
Elevated PA, RA pressures, nl PCWP, SBP
Question:
Pulsus paradoxus.
Answer:
decrease in systolic BP of more than 10mmHg with normal inspiration; palpated as weakened pulse
with inspiration along with more heart contractions to pulse beats
Question:
What conditions give you pulsus paradoxus?.
Answer:
Constrictive or restrictive pericarditis, asthma, tension pneumothorax
Question:
What gives you pulsus bisferiens (two systolic peaks per cycle).
Answer:
Aortic regurgitation, HOCM
Question:
What causes pulsus alternans.
Answer:
Severe LV dysfunction
, Question:
What causes pulsus tardus.
Answer:
Aortic stenosis
Question:
How do positional maneuvers affect blood flow and murmurs.
Answer:
-standing/valsalva - decreased cardiac filling, decreases most murmurs except MVP and HOCM
-squatting/ lying down - increase cardiac volume, increased murmurs except MVP, HOCM
-sustained handgrip - increases systemic resistance, decreases murmur in HOCM, AS
Question:
What causes a physiologic split S2.
Answer:
Increased blood volume in the RV prolongs systole and delays pulmonary valve closure
Question:
What causes a fixed split S2.
Answer:
Pulmonary stenosis, PE, LV pacer, RBBB, MR (early AV closure), ASD, RV failue
Question:
What causes a paradoxic split S2.
Answer:
LBBB, RV pacing, HOCM
Question:
What causes an S3?.
Questions and Answers Verified Solutions
Latest Update 2026/2027
Question:
When to stop a stress test.
Answer:
St segment depression > 2 mm, ventricular tachycardia, drop in SBP > 15, chest pain, dyspnea,
lightheadedness
Question:
Stress test of choice with a LBBB or ventricular pacing?.
Answer:
Myocardial perfusion imaging with adenosine,NOT exercising!
Question:
Know the algorithm for stress testing.
Answer:
See page 5-3,figure 5- 1
Question:
When to not use doutamine for stress.
Answer:
History of VT, severe HTN, Low BP, poor echo images
Question:
When to not use adenosine for stress.
,Answer:
Bronchospasm, severe valvular dysfunction, severe carotid stenosis, 2nd degree heart block,
theophylline dependent
Question:
Normals for PA catheter pressures.
Answer:
RA <7, RV 30/7, PCWP 3-11
Question:
PA cath findings in tamponade or restrictive pericarditis.
Answer:
Diastolic pressures elevated and equalized in all chambers, low BP
Question:
PA cath findings with RV AMI.
Answer:
Elevated RA and PA pressures, decreased or nl PCWP, hypotension, and inferior MI. R side is
decompensated, cannot fill L side of the heart
Question:
PA cath findings in cardiogenic shock.
Answer:
Elevated PCWP, RA pressure, and decreased SBP/cardiac output
Question:
PA cath findings in mitral stenosis with RV failure.
Answer:
,Elevated RA, PA (very elevated), PCWP, nl SBP
Question:
PA cath findings in pulmonary HTN.
Answer:
Elevated PA, RA pressures, nl PCWP, SBP
Question:
Pulsus paradoxus.
Answer:
decrease in systolic BP of more than 10mmHg with normal inspiration; palpated as weakened pulse
with inspiration along with more heart contractions to pulse beats
Question:
What conditions give you pulsus paradoxus?.
Answer:
Constrictive or restrictive pericarditis, asthma, tension pneumothorax
Question:
What gives you pulsus bisferiens (two systolic peaks per cycle).
Answer:
Aortic regurgitation, HOCM
Question:
What causes pulsus alternans.
Answer:
Severe LV dysfunction
, Question:
What causes pulsus tardus.
Answer:
Aortic stenosis
Question:
How do positional maneuvers affect blood flow and murmurs.
Answer:
-standing/valsalva - decreased cardiac filling, decreases most murmurs except MVP and HOCM
-squatting/ lying down - increase cardiac volume, increased murmurs except MVP, HOCM
-sustained handgrip - increases systemic resistance, decreases murmur in HOCM, AS
Question:
What causes a physiologic split S2.
Answer:
Increased blood volume in the RV prolongs systole and delays pulmonary valve closure
Question:
What causes a fixed split S2.
Answer:
Pulmonary stenosis, PE, LV pacer, RBBB, MR (early AV closure), ASD, RV failue
Question:
What causes a paradoxic split S2.
Answer:
LBBB, RV pacing, HOCM
Question:
What causes an S3?.
