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USMLE STEP 2 CK HIGH-
YIELD QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Classic EKG finding in atrial flutter - correct answer- "Sawtooth"
p waves
Definition of unstable angina - correct answer- Angina that is
new, is worsening, or occurs at rest
Antihypertensive for a diabetic patient with proteinuria - correct
answer- ACEI
Beck's triad for cardiac tamponade - correct answer-
Hypotension, distant heart sounds, and JVD
Drugs that slow heart rate - correct answer- Beta-blockers,
CCBs, digoxin, amiodarone
Hypercholesterolemia treatment that leads to flushing and
pruritus - correct answer- Niacin
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Murmur - hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy - correct
answer- A systolic ejection murmur heard along the lateral
sternal border that increases with decreased preload (i.e.
Valsalva maneuver)
Murmur - aortic insufficiency - correct answer- Austin Flint
murmur, a diastolic, decrescendo, low-pitched, blowing murmur
that is best heard sitting up; increases with increased afterload
(i.e. handgrip)
Murmur - aortic stenosis - correct answer- A systolic
crescendo/decrescendo murmur that radiates to the neck;
increases with increased preload (i.e. squatting)
Murmur - mitral regurgitation - correct answer- A holosystolic
murmur that radiates to the axillar; increases with increased
afterload (handgrip)
Murmur - mitral stenosis - correct answer- A diastolic, mid to
late, low-pitched murmur preceded by an opening snap
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Treatment for atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter - correct answer-
If unstable, cardiovert. If stable or chronic, rate control with
CCBs or beta-blockers
Treatment for ventricular fibrillation - correct answer- Immediate
cardioversion
Dressler's syndrome - correct answer- An autoimmune reaction
with fever, pericarditis and increased ESR occurring 2-4 weeks
post-MI
IV drug use with JVD and holosystolic murmur at left sternal
border. Treatment? - correct answer- Treat existing heart failure
and replace tricuspid valve
Diagnostic test for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy - correct
answer- Echocardiogram (showing a thickened left ventricular
wall and outflow obstruction)
Pulsus paradoxus - correct answer- A decrease in systolic BP
of > 10 mmHg with inspiration; seen in cardiac tamponade
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Classic ECG finding in pericarditis - correct answer- Low-
voltage, diffuse ST-segment elevation
Definition of hypertension - correct answer- BP > 140/90 on 3
separate occasions 2 weeks apart
Eight surgically correctable causes of HTN - correct answer-
Renal artery stenosis, coarc of aorta, pheo, Conn's, Cushing's
syndrome, unilateral renal parenchymal dz, hyperthyroid,
hyperparathyroid
Evaluation of pulsatile abdominal mass and bruit - correct
answer- Abdominal U/S and CT
Indications for surgical repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm -
correct answer- >5.5cm, rapidly enlarging, symptomatic,
ruptured
Treatment for acute coronary syndrome - correct answer- ASA,
heparin, clopidogrel, morphine, oxygen, sublingual nitro, IV
beta-blockers
USMLE STEP 2 CK HIGH-
YIELD QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Classic EKG finding in atrial flutter - correct answer- "Sawtooth"
p waves
Definition of unstable angina - correct answer- Angina that is
new, is worsening, or occurs at rest
Antihypertensive for a diabetic patient with proteinuria - correct
answer- ACEI
Beck's triad for cardiac tamponade - correct answer-
Hypotension, distant heart sounds, and JVD
Drugs that slow heart rate - correct answer- Beta-blockers,
CCBs, digoxin, amiodarone
Hypercholesterolemia treatment that leads to flushing and
pruritus - correct answer- Niacin
,2 | Page
Murmur - hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy - correct
answer- A systolic ejection murmur heard along the lateral
sternal border that increases with decreased preload (i.e.
Valsalva maneuver)
Murmur - aortic insufficiency - correct answer- Austin Flint
murmur, a diastolic, decrescendo, low-pitched, blowing murmur
that is best heard sitting up; increases with increased afterload
(i.e. handgrip)
Murmur - aortic stenosis - correct answer- A systolic
crescendo/decrescendo murmur that radiates to the neck;
increases with increased preload (i.e. squatting)
Murmur - mitral regurgitation - correct answer- A holosystolic
murmur that radiates to the axillar; increases with increased
afterload (handgrip)
Murmur - mitral stenosis - correct answer- A diastolic, mid to
late, low-pitched murmur preceded by an opening snap
,3 | Page
Treatment for atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter - correct answer-
If unstable, cardiovert. If stable or chronic, rate control with
CCBs or beta-blockers
Treatment for ventricular fibrillation - correct answer- Immediate
cardioversion
Dressler's syndrome - correct answer- An autoimmune reaction
with fever, pericarditis and increased ESR occurring 2-4 weeks
post-MI
IV drug use with JVD and holosystolic murmur at left sternal
border. Treatment? - correct answer- Treat existing heart failure
and replace tricuspid valve
Diagnostic test for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy - correct
answer- Echocardiogram (showing a thickened left ventricular
wall and outflow obstruction)
Pulsus paradoxus - correct answer- A decrease in systolic BP
of > 10 mmHg with inspiration; seen in cardiac tamponade
, 4 | Page
Classic ECG finding in pericarditis - correct answer- Low-
voltage, diffuse ST-segment elevation
Definition of hypertension - correct answer- BP > 140/90 on 3
separate occasions 2 weeks apart
Eight surgically correctable causes of HTN - correct answer-
Renal artery stenosis, coarc of aorta, pheo, Conn's, Cushing's
syndrome, unilateral renal parenchymal dz, hyperthyroid,
hyperparathyroid
Evaluation of pulsatile abdominal mass and bruit - correct
answer- Abdominal U/S and CT
Indications for surgical repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm -
correct answer- >5.5cm, rapidly enlarging, symptomatic,
ruptured
Treatment for acute coronary syndrome - correct answer- ASA,
heparin, clopidogrel, morphine, oxygen, sublingual nitro, IV
beta-blockers
