PAEA EOC & SUMMATIVE PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS (CORRECT ANSWERS ALREADY GRADED
A+) LATEST UPDATE 2025/2026
what exactly causes the occlusive vascular disease of thromboangiitis
obliterans? - CORRECT ANSWER aka Buerger's disease
inflammatory thrombi affecting the medium and small vessels
(nonatherosclerosis)
polymorphonuclear leukocytes, microabscesses, and multinucleated
giant cells may be presen
Treatment options for thromboangiitis obliterans? - CORRECT
ANSWER smoking cessation most important!
cilostazol (PDE 3 inhibitor) has vasodilator properties (alleviated
symptoms)
if raynauds also present, CCB (nifedipine)
what heart failure treatment provides a benefit of reduction in morbidity
and mortality? - CORRECT ANSWER ACE inhibitors
beta blockers can also reduce M&M
diuretics have no reduction in mortality
,how would you manage a patient with a MI in the setting of cocaine
use? - CORRECT ANSWER benzodiazepine early
no beta blockers
If PCI cannot be done for a STEMI patient within 120 minutes, what
should be done? - CORRECT ANSWER fibrolytic therapy
then do PCI & coronary angiography when it can be done
ideally PCI is done within 90 minutes
fibrolytic therapy can be used up to 12 hours of symptoms
If you suspect an acute limb ischemia due to arterial embolism, what
imaging should you get? - CORRECT ANSWER catheter-based
arteriography (digital subtraction arteriography) provides the most useful
information. can also help with treatment
can help distinguish between thrombosis and embolus
where are arterial emboli often found? - CORRECT ANSWER lower
extremities more common than upper extremities
,The common femoral, common iliac, and popliteal artery bifurcations
are frequent locations
majority originate in the heart
fun fact: Compared with thromboemboli, atheroemboli are less likely to
produce symptoms of acute limb ischemia
how would you work up a patient with treatment resistant hypertension
that you suspect a secondary cause? - CORRECT ANSWER 24-hour
ambulatory monitoring (to ensure not white coat)
medical hx (assess adherence to meds, other meds)
physical exam (look for abominal/renal bruits)
labs (electrolytes, glucose, creatinine, UA)
If pheo suspected: measure fractionated metanephrines and
catecholamines in a 24-hour urine collection
other than atherosclerosis leading to renal artery stenosis and secondary
HTN, what is another causes of a renal-associated secondary HTN? -
CORRECT ANSWER fibromuscular dysplasia (usually in a young pt)
most important modifable risk factor for AAA? - CORRECT
ANSWER smoking cessation!
, when is it okay to do screening survelliance for AAA rather than repair
and how often should you screen? - CORRECT ANSWER if AAA is
<5.5 cm then annual screening with US is recommended. may need
every 6 months if rapidly expanding or other concerns
how should you educate a patient with AAA on exercise? - CORRECT
ANSWER Patients should be counseled that moderate physical activity
such as running, biking, swimming, hiking, or sexual activity and
activities such as gardening, golfing, and horseback riding do not
precipitate AAA rupture
Moderate physical therapy may also limit aneurysm expansion. In
experimental aneurysms, increased aortic blood flow appears to inhibit
AAA expansion
However, heavy lifting, especially while holding the breath, and other
activities that lead to Valsalva transiently induce significant increases in
blood pressure and should be avoided
gold standard for dx renal artery stenosis? what can be used to monitor
disease progression? - CORRECT ANSWER renal arteriography
But really a spiral CT angiography is very useful and probably more
likely done first
duplex doppler US can be used to monitor disease progression
AND ANSWERS (CORRECT ANSWERS ALREADY GRADED
A+) LATEST UPDATE 2025/2026
what exactly causes the occlusive vascular disease of thromboangiitis
obliterans? - CORRECT ANSWER aka Buerger's disease
inflammatory thrombi affecting the medium and small vessels
(nonatherosclerosis)
polymorphonuclear leukocytes, microabscesses, and multinucleated
giant cells may be presen
Treatment options for thromboangiitis obliterans? - CORRECT
ANSWER smoking cessation most important!
cilostazol (PDE 3 inhibitor) has vasodilator properties (alleviated
symptoms)
if raynauds also present, CCB (nifedipine)
what heart failure treatment provides a benefit of reduction in morbidity
and mortality? - CORRECT ANSWER ACE inhibitors
beta blockers can also reduce M&M
diuretics have no reduction in mortality
,how would you manage a patient with a MI in the setting of cocaine
use? - CORRECT ANSWER benzodiazepine early
no beta blockers
If PCI cannot be done for a STEMI patient within 120 minutes, what
should be done? - CORRECT ANSWER fibrolytic therapy
then do PCI & coronary angiography when it can be done
ideally PCI is done within 90 minutes
fibrolytic therapy can be used up to 12 hours of symptoms
If you suspect an acute limb ischemia due to arterial embolism, what
imaging should you get? - CORRECT ANSWER catheter-based
arteriography (digital subtraction arteriography) provides the most useful
information. can also help with treatment
can help distinguish between thrombosis and embolus
where are arterial emboli often found? - CORRECT ANSWER lower
extremities more common than upper extremities
,The common femoral, common iliac, and popliteal artery bifurcations
are frequent locations
majority originate in the heart
fun fact: Compared with thromboemboli, atheroemboli are less likely to
produce symptoms of acute limb ischemia
how would you work up a patient with treatment resistant hypertension
that you suspect a secondary cause? - CORRECT ANSWER 24-hour
ambulatory monitoring (to ensure not white coat)
medical hx (assess adherence to meds, other meds)
physical exam (look for abominal/renal bruits)
labs (electrolytes, glucose, creatinine, UA)
If pheo suspected: measure fractionated metanephrines and
catecholamines in a 24-hour urine collection
other than atherosclerosis leading to renal artery stenosis and secondary
HTN, what is another causes of a renal-associated secondary HTN? -
CORRECT ANSWER fibromuscular dysplasia (usually in a young pt)
most important modifable risk factor for AAA? - CORRECT
ANSWER smoking cessation!
, when is it okay to do screening survelliance for AAA rather than repair
and how often should you screen? - CORRECT ANSWER if AAA is
<5.5 cm then annual screening with US is recommended. may need
every 6 months if rapidly expanding or other concerns
how should you educate a patient with AAA on exercise? - CORRECT
ANSWER Patients should be counseled that moderate physical activity
such as running, biking, swimming, hiking, or sexual activity and
activities such as gardening, golfing, and horseback riding do not
precipitate AAA rupture
Moderate physical therapy may also limit aneurysm expansion. In
experimental aneurysms, increased aortic blood flow appears to inhibit
AAA expansion
However, heavy lifting, especially while holding the breath, and other
activities that lead to Valsalva transiently induce significant increases in
blood pressure and should be avoided
gold standard for dx renal artery stenosis? what can be used to monitor
disease progression? - CORRECT ANSWER renal arteriography
But really a spiral CT angiography is very useful and probably more
likely done first
duplex doppler US can be used to monitor disease progression
