Cardiology Flashcards
- Which of the following require a 2D-echo for diagnosis?
A. Mitral valve prolapse
B. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
C. Congestive heart failure
D. Cardiac tamponade
E. Atrial septal defect
B. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy requires a 2D-echo for diagnosis. All the other conditions do not need a 2D-echo to confirm diagnosis.
- In which scenario is 2D-echo with doppler NOT generally necessary?
A. A 25-year-old man with grade II continuous murmur
B. A 45-year-old woman with grade II mid-diastolic murmur but asymptomatic
C. A 20-year-old woman with a grade II mid-systolic murmur but asymptomatic
D. A 50-year-old male with grade III late-systolic murmur
E. A 20-year-old man with grade II holosystolic murmur but asymptomatic
C. A 20-year-old woman with a grade II mid-systolic murmur but asymptomatic
2D-echo with doppler is required for: LOUD systolic murmurs (grade >/= III/VI), holosystolic or late systolic murmurs, diastolic or continuous murmurs
- Malar telangiectasia is a cutaneous manifestation of which cardiovascular disease?
A. Severe mitral stenosis
B. Significant coronary artery disease
C. Malignant hypertension
D. Osler-Weder-Rendu syndrome
E. Carney’s syndrome
A. Severe mitral stenosis (or Advanced mitral stenosis)
- Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome is hereditary form of hemorrhagic telagiectasia located at the lips, tongue, and mucus membrane
- Carney’s syndrome is characterized by excessive lentigenosis, developmental delay, and multiple myxomas
- The presence of peripheral edema in the setting of a normal venous pressure is characteristic of which condition?
A. Constrictive pericarditis
B. Venous insufficiency
C. Cardiac tamponade
D. Severe congestive heart failure
E. Severe atherosclerosis
B. Venous insufficiency (more common cause)
- Differentials: lymphatic obstruction, venous obstruction (e.g. DVT)
- Peripheral edema + increase in JVP: chronic HF, constrictive pericarditis
- A patient is seen at the Emergency Room in respiratory distress with a notable drop in his blood pressure from 110/80 to 90/770 on inspiration. Which of the following conditions is the most likely cause?
A. Severe aortic stenosis
B. Dilated cardiomyopathy
C. Restrictive cardiomyopathy
D. Cardiogenic shock
E. Pericardial effusion
E. Pericardial effusion
- Other possible causes of pulsus paradoxus (>10mmHg decrease in SBP with inspiration): cardiac tamponade, massive PTE, hemorrhagic shock, severe COPD, tension pneumothorax
- An anacrotic pulse with shrill is most likely due to:
A. Aortic stenosis
B. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
C. Advanced aortic regurgitation
D. Severe dilated cardiomyopathy
E. Premature ventricular contractions
A. Aortic stenosis
- Anacrotic pulse: slow, notced, or interrupted upstroke
- Bifid or bisferiens pulse: AR, HCMP
- Pulsus bigeminus: PVCs
- Pulsus alternans: PVCs, severe HF
- Corrigan’s pulse (water hammer): AR
- A 60-year-old diabetic man with persistent chest discomfort consults at your outpatient clinic. On checking his blood pressures, you noticed that his right arm BP is 140/80 mmHg while his left arm BP is 120/80 mmHg. What can cause the above finding?
A. Aortic dissection
B. Essential hypertension
C. Aortic regurgitation
D. Large AV fistula
E. It is a normal finding in his age group
A. Aortic dissection
- Normal BP difference between arms is <10mmHg
- Possible causes of higher BP differential: atherosclerotic or inflammatory subclavian artery disease, supraclavicular aortic stenosis, aortic coarctation, aortic dissection
- Reversed split S1
A. Complete RBBB
B. Complete LBBB
C. RA myxoma
D. Normal in young patients
E. Atrial septal defect
B. Complete LBBB
- Others: severe MS, LA myxoma
- Wide split S2
A. Pulmonary hypertension
B. Severe aortic stenosis
C. RBBB
D. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
E. Acute myocardial infarction
C. RBBB
- Differentials: severe MR
- Fixed split: ASD
- Paradoxical/Reverse split: LBBB, right ventricular pacing, severe AS, HOCM, AMI
- Which of the following is a systolic sound?
A. Click-murmur complex
B. Opening snap
C. Pericardial knock
D. Tumor plop of atrial myxoma
E. 4th heart sound (S4)
C. Click-murmur complex (associated with MVP)
- All the rest are diastolic sounds, including S3
- Inspiration increases the intensity of the following cardiac sounds, EXCEPT:
A. Tricuspid regurgitation murmur
B. Tricuspid stenosis murmur
C. Pulmonic regurgitation murmur
D. ASD murmur
E. Pulmonic ejection sounds
E. Pulmonic ejection sounds
- All right-sided murmurs and sounds EXCEPT Pulmonic ejection sound
- Pulmonic ejection clicks are high-pitched sounds that occur at the moment of maximal opening of the pulmonary valve
- The diastolic correlate of a pulmonic ejection sound or click is the opening snap in tricuspid stenosis while the valves are still flexible
- Which of the following maneuvers can increase the murmur of mitral valve prolapse?
A. Standing
B. Squatting
C. Passive leg raising
D. Inspiration
E. After a premature ventricular beat
A. Standing
- Other maneuvers: Valsalva or coughing
- Murmur of MVP DECREASES with: squatting, passive leg raising, AF or a premature ventricular beat (the latter two also may not have any effect on MVP murmur)
- Similar maneuvers also affect HOCM (and it is additionally decreased with near maximum handgrip exercise)
- Which of the following presents with early diastolic murmur?
A. Carey-Coomb’s murmur
B. Austin-Flint murmur
C. Mitral stenosis
D. Severe mitral regurgitation
E. Aortic regurgitation
E. Aortic regurgitation
- Other that can present as early diastolic murmur: PR due to pulmonary HTN
- A 65-year-old male ESRD patient is seen to have rapid shallow breathing with acidotic breath. He has missed his dialysis sessions for at least 1 week now. ABGs revealed severe metabolic acidosis. Your requested for stat ECG. What findings would be consistent with the given clinical picture?
A. Prominent “u” wave
B. Prolonged QT interval
C. Peaked P waves
D. Peaked T waves
E. Narrowed QRS
D. Peaked T waves
- Hyperkalemia: narrowing and peaking (tenting) of the T waves –> AV conduction disturbances, decrease in P wave amplitude, increase in QRS interval –> cardiac arrest with a slow sinusoidal type of mechanism (“sine-wave” pattern) –> asystole
- Which ECG finding is most consistent with hypokalemia?
A. Prolonged QT interval
B. Narrowing and tenting of the T wave
C. Widening of the QRS
D. Decrease in P wave amplitude
E. Widened QRS complex
A. Prolonged QT interval
- Prolonged QT interval (pseudo-prolongation when “u” wave merges with the T wave”
- Which of the following ECG findings would be characteristic of right atrial enlargement?
A. Notched upright P wave in limb leads
B. Biphasic P wave in V1
C. Tall peaked P waves at least 2.5mm in limb leads
D. R in V5 more than 10mm
E. S in V1 + R in V6 more than 35mm
C. Tall peaked P waves at least 2.5mm in limb leads
- Right Atrial Enlargement (RAE) : tall peaked P waves (>/= 2.5mm) in limb and precordial leads
- Left Atrial Enlargement (LAE) is seen as biphasic (with broad negative component) P wave in limb leads or notched in limb leads
- LVH: R V5 or R V6 > 25mm; OR S V1 + R V5 or V6 >/= 35mm
- RVH: R>S on V1 with RAD; or R, RS, qR pattern in V1; or ST depression and T-wave inversion in the right to midprecordial leads
- What is the ECG pattern shown below?
A. LBBB
B. RBBB
C. RVH
D. LVH
E. RAE
B. RBBB
- Criteria for RBBB: terminal QRS vector is oriented anteriorly and to the right (rSR’ in V1 and qRS in V6)
- Triggered automaticity secondary to afterdepolarizations during an action potential can lead to which arrhythmia?
A. Reperfusion Ventricular tachycardia
B. Digitalis-associated ventricular tachycardia
C. Ischemic ventricular fibrillation
D. Atrial fibrillation
E. Torsades de Pointes
E. Torsades de Pointes
- EAD (Early after depolarizations) - during an action potential
- DAD (Delayed after depolarizations) - following an action potential: digitalis toxicity, reperfusion VT
- Repolarization abnormality characterized by AP shortening: AF
- Suppression of phase 0: ischemic VF
- A 58-year-old man, hypertensive with recent history of NSTEMI consults for episodes of palpitations and dizziness. His 12-LECG tracing shown below is read as:
A. First degree AV block
B. Mobitz type I
C. Mobitz type II
D. Third degree AV block
E. Atrial fibrillation
C. Mobitz type II
- 2nd degree AV block, Mobitz type II, 2:1 AV block
- 2:1 stands for the P:QRS ratio
- A 50-year-old woman, with DM and hypertension is given maintenance Metformin and Atenolol. She later complained of occasional episodes of lightheadedness but was otherwise comfortable and productive. Her PE findings are essentially normal except for a heart rate of 55bpm. 12-LECG tracing is shown below. What is the appropriate management of this patient?
A. Maintain current medications and repeat ECG after 1 week
B. Maintain current medications and have a temporary pacemaker implanted
C. Change Atenolol to Diltiazem and repeat ECG after a week
D. Change Atenolol to Enalapril and repeat ECG after a week
E. Stop Metformin and Atenolol and repeat ECG after a week
D. Change Atenolol to Enalapril and repeat ECG after a week
- ECG reading: 2nd degree AV block, Mobitz type I
- there is increasing PR interval until a non-conducted P wave
- What does the ECG tracing below represent?
A. Atrial fibrillation in slow ventricular response
B. Third degree AV block
C. Wenckebach phenomenon
D. First degree AV block
E. Sinus node dysfunction
B. Third degree AV block
- What is the tachyarrhythmia primarily seen among patients with chronic pulmonary disease during acute exacerbations of the pulmonary insufficiency?
A. Multifocal atrial tachycardia
B. Atrial fibrillation
C. Macroreentrant atrial tachycardia
D. Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
E. Junctional ectopic tachycardia
A. Multifocal atrial tachycardia (MAT)
- A 50-year-old woman with stage IV breast cancer complains of sudden-onset of shortness of breath and palpitations but no chest pain. You saw her diaphoretic with coarse tremors. Her blood pressure was 110/80mmHg, heart rate of 170 beats per minute, respiratory rate of 24breaths/min. Breath sounds are clear. You did a stat 12-LECG shown below. What is your initial intervention?
A. Carotid sinus massage
B. Give Esmolol IV
C. Give Adenosine 6mg rapid IV bolus
D. Give Diltiazem IV
E. Sedate and cardiovert using 100J biphasic shock
A. Carotid sinus massage
- If unresponsive to vasovagal maneuvers –> IV Adenosine or Verapamil/Diltiazem –> IV Ibutilide + AV nodal blocking agent –> Biphasic shock 100J
- A 70-year-old man, known hypertensive and diabetic was noted to have recent onset atrial fibrillation on ECG. His previous ECG about 24hours prior to the present one showed a regular sinus rhythm. His heart rate is 78 beats per minute, irregularly irregular. He is not in distress and his vital signs are within acceptable limits. He has been able to tolerate regular activities until present consult. What is the most appropriate next step in the management of this patient?
A. Perform transesophageal echocardiography
B. Give Verapamil to control the heart rate
C. Start Amiodarone or Ibutilide
D. Perform electrical cardioversion under sedation
E. Anticoagulate before electrical cardioversion
E. Anticoagulate before electrical cardioversion
- CHA2DS2-VASc score of the patient is 3
Age is 70 y/o: +1
Hypertension: +1
DM: +1
- Recall: CHA2DS2-VASc
CHF = +1 HTN = +1 Age (>/= 75, +2; 65 to 74, +1)
DM = +1 Stroke/TIA/Thromboembolism = +1 Sex (Female = +1)
Vascular Disease = +1
- A 60-year-old man, known hypertensive consults you for episodes of palpitations of 4hours duration. You previously saw the patient a day earlier with an ECG showing regular sinus rhythm. On chest, auscultation you noticed an irregularly irregular rhythm with a heart rate of about 108. The rest of your PE findings are normal. You did a stat 12-LECG with the following tracing. Your computed heart rate is 110. What is the most appropriate initial intervention?
A. Control the heart rate
B. Sedate patient and deliver 200J synchronous shock
C. Give Amiodarone IV loading dose
D. Anticoagulate before electrical cardioversion
E. Perform transesophageal echocardiography
A. Control the heart rate
- ECG tracing: Atrial fibrillation in RVR
- If AF is persistent, assess risk for stroke prior to electrical cardioversion (anticoagulate first if CHA2DS2-VASc is at least 2)
- CHA2DS2-VASc
C- CHF
H - Hypertension
A - Age (65 to 74, +1; >/= 75, +2)
D - Diabetes
S - Stroke/TIA/Thromboembolism, +2
- Sex (Female, +1)
VASc - Vascular Disease
- A 60-year-old male patient with 3 months or progressive exertional dyspnea and orthopnea is examined at your clinic with irregularly irregular rhythm with a heart rate of 80 bpm. An ECG done a day earlier showed a regular sinus rhythm but latest ECG showed irregular RR interval with absent P waves. If pharmacologic cardioversion is indicated, which of the following drugs is appropriate given his clinical condition
A. Propafenone
B. Verapamil
C. Procainamide
D. Sotalol
E. Amiodarone
E. Amiodarone
- A 58-year-old man admitted for the last three days for acute ST elevation AMI has frequent PVCs on 12-LECG. He is otherwise asymptomatic. What do you advice this patient?
A. He will benefit from ICD placement
B. He will benefit with prophylactic anti-arrhythmic therapy
C. He will have to have his serum potassium and magnesium levels determined
D. Even if asymptomatic he has to be started on Amiodarone to reduce his risk of dying
E. He will benefit from catheter ablation therapy
C. He will have to have his serum potassium and magnesium levels determined
- For asymptomatic patients: Correct hypokalemia and/or hypomagnesemia, start beta-blocker therapy
- Amiodarone reduces the risk of sudden death BUT overall mortality risk is not improved
- ICD placement: indicated for certain high-risk groups among survivors of AMI
- Survived >40days after the AMI and LVEF = 0.3 or EF < 0.35 + symptomatic HF (NYHA FC II-III)
- > 5days after MI + LVEF, non-sustained VT, and inducible sustained VT or VF on electrophysiologic testing
- What is the role of cardiac MRI with gadolinium contrast in the work-up of patients with monomorphic ventricular tachycardia?
A. Determine degree of depression of ventricular function
B. Determine presence of outflow tract abnormality
C. Detect areas of ventricular scars
D. Diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
E. Document occurrence of ventricular tachycardia during exercise
C. Detect areas of ventricular scars
- Detect areas of ventricular scars which predispose to sustained monomorphic VT
- Which of the following correctly describes the association of ventricular tachycardia and coronary artery disease?
A. The presence of evidence of acute MI rules out scar-related VT
B. Majority of patients with VT during an AMI will not have recurrence in the next 2 years
C. Scar-related VT is dependent on recurrent AMI
D. Coronary revascularization prevents recurrence of VT
E. It occurs in the setting of a large prior MI with markedly depressed LV ejection fraction
E. It occurs in the setting of a large prior MI with markedly depressed LV ejection fraction
- Prior history of large AMI with markedly decreased LVEF and cardiac remodelling
- A 40-year-old man on maintenance Haloperidol was brought to the emergency room for repeated syncopal episodes. Vital signs are stable. 12-LECG as shown below. What is the most appropriate management?
A. Immediate defibrillation after adequate sedation
B. Synchronized monophasic DC cardioversion using 100J shock
C. Placement of ICD
D. IV Magnesium sulfate
E. IV Lidocaine
D. IV Magnesium sulfate
- ECG tracing: Torsade de pointes
- IV Magnesium sulfate for Torsade de pointes
- There must be documentation of a prolonged QT
- Causes of acquired prolonged QT: electrolyte abnormalities, bradycardia, medications (sotalol, dofetilide, ibutilide, erythromycin, pentamidine, haloperidol, phenothiazines, methadone)
- What is the first line treatment of symptomatic idiopathic VT?
A. Catheter ablation
B. ICD
C. Amiodarone
D. Lidocaine
E. Beta-blocker therapy
A. Catheter ablation
- Which of the following can be primarily managed initially with QRS synchronous cardioversion in the setting of hemodynamic compromise?
A. Non-sustained monomorphic VT
B. Sustained polymorphic VT
C. Sustained monomorphic VT
D. Ventricular fibrillation
E. Ventricular flutter
C. Sustained monomorphic VT
- Which of the following etiologies of heart failure will almost always present with systolic heart failure?
A. Cor pulmonale
B. Drug-induced dilated cardiomyopathy
C. Restrictive cardiomyopathy
D. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
E. LVH secondary to Hypertension
B Drug-induced dilated cardiomyopathy
- On a global perspective, the single most common cause of heart failure is:
A. Rheumatic heart disease
B. Hypertensive heart disease
C. Alcohol-induced dilated cardiomyopathy
D. Coronary artery disease
E. Virus-induced dilated cardiomyopathy
D. Coronary artery disease
- Which of the following events can ultimately lead to cardiac decompensatin in heart failure?
A. Activated autonomic nervous system
B. Activated RAAS
C. Increased inflammatory
D. Increased peptides and growth factors
E. All of the above
E. All of the above
- Activated autonomic nervous system
- Activated RAAS
- Increased inflammatory
- Increased peptides and growth factors
- Which of the mechanisms contribute to the pathogenesis of heart failure?
A. Increased expression of the alpha-myosin heavy chain
B. Increased activity of the sarcoplasmic calcium-ATPase
C. Beta-adrenergic desensitization
D. Decreased expression of angiotensin II and endothelin
E. Inhibition of hypertrophic signaling pathways
C. Beta-adrenergic desensitization
- Which mechanism explains the development of Cheyne-Stokes respiration in heart failure?
A. Decreased sensitivity of the respiratory center to arterial pO2
B. Decreased sensitivity of the respiratory center to arterial pCO2
C. Increased pressure in the bronchial arteries leading to airway compression
D. The presence of interstitial pulmonary edema leading to increased airway resistance
E. Activation of the juxtacapillary J receptors in the setting of pulmonary congestion causing rapid shallow breathing
B. Decreased sensitivity of the respiratory center to arterial pCO2
- Increased pressure in the bronchial arteries leading to airway compression and the presence of interstitial pulmonary edema leading to increased airway resistance (choices C. and D.): mechanisms of PND
- Activation of the juxtacapillary J receptors in the setting of pulmonary congestion causing rapid shallow breathing (choice E.): mechanism of exertional dyspnea
- What can explain the manifestation of early satiety with abdominal pain and fullness in a patient with early stage of heart failure?
A. Presence of ascites
B. Presence of hepatosplenomegaly
C. Presence of bowel wall edema
D. Early activation of the satiety center
E. Increased levels of circulating estrogens
C. Presence of bowel wall edema
- Early satiety and abdominal pain and fullness may be due to presence of bowel wall edema and/or liver congestion
- Which of the following PE findings may be an indicator of the severity of hemodynamic compromise in heart failure:
A. Presence of a third heart sound (S3)
B. Presence of a fourth heart sound (S4)
C. Sustained point of maximal impulse that is displaced laterally
D. Presence of peripheral edema
E. Absence of peripheral edema
A. Presence of a third heart sound (S3)
- The most useful index of left ventricular function:
A. Cardiac index
B. LV End-diastolic volume
C. Stroke volume
D. Ejection fraction
E. LV size
D. Ejection fraction
- EF limitations: may be increased in MR
- Depressed EF (<30-40%) indicates poor cardiac contractility
- Normal EF (>/= 50%) indicates adequate systolic function