CARDIOLOGY BOARDS ABIM COMPREHENSIVE EXAM SCRIPT COMPLETE QUESTIONS VERIFIED SOLUTIONS

CARDIOLOGY BOARDS ABIM COMPREHENSIVE EXAM SCRIPT COMPLETE QUESTIONS
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
Cardiology Boards ABIM Review Sheet 2026/2027
Questions and Answers Verified Solutions Latest
Update

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-



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.