High Yield Board Exam Essentials -
NAPLEX 2025
Pathophysiology of hypertension includes elevated what? - Answer-Elevated peripheral vascular
resistance, cardiac output, or both.
How might hypertension present in a patient? - Answer-May be completely asymptomatic with elevated
BP only.
What is a classic finding for diagnosing hypertension? - Answer-The average of two or more
appropriately seated BP values from two or more clinical encounters of an SBP greater than 130 mmHg
or DBP greater than 80 mmHg.
What should the selection of initial antihypertensive treatment be based on? - Answer-Based on
compelling indications and the degree of BP elevation.
Name some common first-line agents for treating hypertension. - Answer-ACE-inhibitors, ARBs, CCB, and
thiazide diuretics.
In black patients, which monotherapy may not be as effective for treating hypertension? - Answer-ACE-
inhibitors or ARBs.
,What should be avoided during pregnancy when treating hypertension? - Answer-ACE-inhibitors or
ARBs.
Pathophysiology of bradyarrhythmias includes altered what? - Answer-Altered automaticity and impulse
generation (sinus bradycardia and sick sinus syndrome) or conduction disturbance in the atria and
ventricles (first-, second-, and third-degree block).
How might bradyarrhythmias present in a patient? - Answer-May be asymptomatic, or lightheadedness,
presyncope or syncope, angina.
What is a classic finding for diagnosing bradyarrhythmias? - Answer-ECG changes consistent with
bradyarrhythmia. Pulse < 60 bpm.
What should be the initial step in treating bradyarrhythmias? - Answer-Identify reversible causes.
What are some acute management options for bradyarrhythmias? - Answer-Pacing (transcutaneous,
transvenous), atropine, or epinephrine.
Pathophysiology of pulseless electrical activity includes what? - Answer-Organized or semi-organized
cardiac electrical activity and ineffective LV stroke volume, not producing a detectable pulse.
How might pulseless electrical activity present in a patient? - Answer-Cardiac arrest (unresponsive, no
palpable pulse, no spontaneous breathing).
What is a classic finding for diagnosing pulseless electrical activity? - Answer-Pulseless, apneic or agonal
respirations, not responding to verbal/painful stimulation.
What should be the initial step in treating pulseless electrical activity? - Answer-ACLS protocol (chest
compressions, intubation/ventilation).
,What is the dosage and frequency of epinephrine in treating pulseless electrical activity? - Answer-
Epinephrine IV/IO 1 mg q3-5 minutes.
What are some reversible causes of pulseless electrical activity that should be considered during
treatment? - Answer-Hypovolemia, hypoxia, hydrogen (acidosis), hyper/hypokalemia,
hyper/hypothermia, hypoglycemia, toxins, trauma, tamponade, tension pneumothorax, thrombus
(coronary), thromboembolism (PE).
What treatments are not indicated for pulseless electrical activity? - Answer-No defibrillation, use of
atropine, lidocaine, or amiodarone.
Pathophysiology of ventricular tachycardia includes what? - Answer-Increased automaticity and
triggered activity causing ventricular tachycardia (VT), inadequate diastole, and hemodynamic collapse
from insufficient cardiac output.
How might ventricular tachycardia present in a patient? - Answer-Cardiac arrest (unresponsive, no
palpable pulse, no spontaneous breathing).
What is a classic finding for diagnosing ventricular tachycardia? - Answer-Pulseless with either
monomorphic VT or polymorphic VT.
What should be the initial step in treating ventricular tachycardia? - Answer-ACLS protocol (chest
compressions, intubation/ventilation), defibrillation.
What is the dosage and frequency of epinephrine in treating ventricular tachycardia? - Answer-
Epinephrine IV/IO 1 mg q3-5 minutes.
What is the dosage of amiodarone in treating ventricular tachycardia? - Answer-Amiodarone IV/IO 300
mg.
, What is the dosage of lidocaine in treating ventricular tachycardia? - Answer-Lidocaine IV 1.5 mg/kg.
Pathophysiology of Sustained ventricular tachycardia includes what? - Answer-Consecutive beats with a
wide QRS and a rate of at least 100 bpm associated with CAD or structural heart disease.
How might Sustained ventricular tachycardia present in a patient? - Answer-Chest pain, palpitations,
diaphoresis, nausea/vomiting, altered mental status, and palpable pulses.
What is a classic finding for diagnosing Sustained ventricular tachycardia? - Answer-V-tach sustained for
at least 30 seconds or causing a hemodynamic collapse in less than 30 seconds.
What should be the initial step in treating Sustained ventricular tachycardia? - Answer-Synchronized
cardioversion (NOT defibrillation).
What is the dosage and administration method of amiodarone in treating Sustained ventricular
tachycardia with pulse - Answer-Amiodarone IV 150 mg over 10 minutes.
Pathophysiology of cocaine-induced myocardial infarction includes what? - Answer-Dose-dependent
decreased oxygen supply due to coronary vessel vasoconstriction, induction of prothrombotic states,
and accelerating atherosclerosis.
How might cocaine-induced myocardial infarction present in a patient? - Answer-Recent cocaine use,
usually within 3 hours but may be up to 4 days with pressure-like substernal chest pain.
What is a classic finding for diagnosing cocaine-induced myocardial infarction? - Answer-ECG changes
consistent with UA/NSTEMI or STEMI plus patient-reported or lab evidence of cocaine use.
NAPLEX 2025
Pathophysiology of hypertension includes elevated what? - Answer-Elevated peripheral vascular
resistance, cardiac output, or both.
How might hypertension present in a patient? - Answer-May be completely asymptomatic with elevated
BP only.
What is a classic finding for diagnosing hypertension? - Answer-The average of two or more
appropriately seated BP values from two or more clinical encounters of an SBP greater than 130 mmHg
or DBP greater than 80 mmHg.
What should the selection of initial antihypertensive treatment be based on? - Answer-Based on
compelling indications and the degree of BP elevation.
Name some common first-line agents for treating hypertension. - Answer-ACE-inhibitors, ARBs, CCB, and
thiazide diuretics.
In black patients, which monotherapy may not be as effective for treating hypertension? - Answer-ACE-
inhibitors or ARBs.
,What should be avoided during pregnancy when treating hypertension? - Answer-ACE-inhibitors or
ARBs.
Pathophysiology of bradyarrhythmias includes altered what? - Answer-Altered automaticity and impulse
generation (sinus bradycardia and sick sinus syndrome) or conduction disturbance in the atria and
ventricles (first-, second-, and third-degree block).
How might bradyarrhythmias present in a patient? - Answer-May be asymptomatic, or lightheadedness,
presyncope or syncope, angina.
What is a classic finding for diagnosing bradyarrhythmias? - Answer-ECG changes consistent with
bradyarrhythmia. Pulse < 60 bpm.
What should be the initial step in treating bradyarrhythmias? - Answer-Identify reversible causes.
What are some acute management options for bradyarrhythmias? - Answer-Pacing (transcutaneous,
transvenous), atropine, or epinephrine.
Pathophysiology of pulseless electrical activity includes what? - Answer-Organized or semi-organized
cardiac electrical activity and ineffective LV stroke volume, not producing a detectable pulse.
How might pulseless electrical activity present in a patient? - Answer-Cardiac arrest (unresponsive, no
palpable pulse, no spontaneous breathing).
What is a classic finding for diagnosing pulseless electrical activity? - Answer-Pulseless, apneic or agonal
respirations, not responding to verbal/painful stimulation.
What should be the initial step in treating pulseless electrical activity? - Answer-ACLS protocol (chest
compressions, intubation/ventilation).
,What is the dosage and frequency of epinephrine in treating pulseless electrical activity? - Answer-
Epinephrine IV/IO 1 mg q3-5 minutes.
What are some reversible causes of pulseless electrical activity that should be considered during
treatment? - Answer-Hypovolemia, hypoxia, hydrogen (acidosis), hyper/hypokalemia,
hyper/hypothermia, hypoglycemia, toxins, trauma, tamponade, tension pneumothorax, thrombus
(coronary), thromboembolism (PE).
What treatments are not indicated for pulseless electrical activity? - Answer-No defibrillation, use of
atropine, lidocaine, or amiodarone.
Pathophysiology of ventricular tachycardia includes what? - Answer-Increased automaticity and
triggered activity causing ventricular tachycardia (VT), inadequate diastole, and hemodynamic collapse
from insufficient cardiac output.
How might ventricular tachycardia present in a patient? - Answer-Cardiac arrest (unresponsive, no
palpable pulse, no spontaneous breathing).
What is a classic finding for diagnosing ventricular tachycardia? - Answer-Pulseless with either
monomorphic VT or polymorphic VT.
What should be the initial step in treating ventricular tachycardia? - Answer-ACLS protocol (chest
compressions, intubation/ventilation), defibrillation.
What is the dosage and frequency of epinephrine in treating ventricular tachycardia? - Answer-
Epinephrine IV/IO 1 mg q3-5 minutes.
What is the dosage of amiodarone in treating ventricular tachycardia? - Answer-Amiodarone IV/IO 300
mg.
, What is the dosage of lidocaine in treating ventricular tachycardia? - Answer-Lidocaine IV 1.5 mg/kg.
Pathophysiology of Sustained ventricular tachycardia includes what? - Answer-Consecutive beats with a
wide QRS and a rate of at least 100 bpm associated with CAD or structural heart disease.
How might Sustained ventricular tachycardia present in a patient? - Answer-Chest pain, palpitations,
diaphoresis, nausea/vomiting, altered mental status, and palpable pulses.
What is a classic finding for diagnosing Sustained ventricular tachycardia? - Answer-V-tach sustained for
at least 30 seconds or causing a hemodynamic collapse in less than 30 seconds.
What should be the initial step in treating Sustained ventricular tachycardia? - Answer-Synchronized
cardioversion (NOT defibrillation).
What is the dosage and administration method of amiodarone in treating Sustained ventricular
tachycardia with pulse - Answer-Amiodarone IV 150 mg over 10 minutes.
Pathophysiology of cocaine-induced myocardial infarction includes what? - Answer-Dose-dependent
decreased oxygen supply due to coronary vessel vasoconstriction, induction of prothrombotic states,
and accelerating atherosclerosis.
How might cocaine-induced myocardial infarction present in a patient? - Answer-Recent cocaine use,
usually within 3 hours but may be up to 4 days with pressure-like substernal chest pain.
What is a classic finding for diagnosing cocaine-induced myocardial infarction? - Answer-ECG changes
consistent with UA/NSTEMI or STEMI plus patient-reported or lab evidence of cocaine use.
