American Board of Interventional Cardiology Practice Exam

1. Cardiac Anatomy and Physiology • Overview of cardiac anatomy: heart chambers, valves, and vessels • Electrical conduction system: sinoatrial node, atrioventricular node, bundle of His, and Purkinje fibers • Hemodynamics and physiology of blood flow • Coronary circulation and collateral circulation • Pathophysiology of ischemia and infarction • Regulation of blood pressure: baroreceptors, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system 2. Cardiac Imaging and Diagnostics • Echocardiography: principles, types, and diagnostic value • Coronary angiography: indications, technique, and interpretation • Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in interventional cardiology • Functional testing: stress testing, pharmacological testing, and nuclear imaging • Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) • Cardiac biomarkers and laboratory tests 3. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) • Pathophysiology of CAD: atherosclerosis, plaque formation, and rupture • Risk factors for CAD: smoking, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia • Clinical presentation of CAD: stable angina, unstable angina, and myocardial infarction • Treatment strategies: lifestyle modification, pharmacological therapies (antiplatelets, statins), and revascularization techniques • Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI): indications, technique, and complications • Stent placement: drug-eluting stents vs. bare-metal stents, restenosis 4. Interventional Techniques and Procedures • Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) techniques o Balloon angioplasty o Stenting: procedure, types of stents, complications o Chronic total occlusion (CTO) intervention: techniques, challenges • Atherectomy: types (rotational, directional, laser), indications, and complications • FFR (Fractional Flow Reserve) and IVUS for PCI guidance • Coronary flow reserve (CFR) and microvascular disease • Coronary bifurcation lesions: treatment strategies and techniques • Left main coronary artery disease: treatment and management options 5. Valvular Heart Disease and Interventions • Pathophysiology and clinical features of valvular heart diseases: aortic stenosis, mitral regurgitation, etc. • Diagnostic tools for assessing valve function • Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR): indications, technique, and complications • Percutaneous mitral valve interventions: MitraClip and other approaches • Balloon valvuloplasty: indications and procedural considerations 6. Structural Heart Disease • Atrial septal defect (ASD), patent foramen ovale (PFO), and ventricular septal defect (VSD): diagnosis and treatment • Left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion: techniques and indications • Transcatheter closure of septal defects and LAA • Endovenous laser therapy (EVLT) for venous disease • Management of cardiomyopathies in the context of interventional cardiology 7. Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) • Epidemiology, risk factors, and clinical presentation of PAD • Diagnostic techniques: ankle-brachial index (ABI), duplex ultrasound, angiography • Endovascular treatment of PAD: balloon angioplasty, stenting, atherectomy • Management of critical limb ischemia (CLI) and advanced PAD • Emerging technologies: drug-coated balloons, bioresorbable scaffolds 8. Carotid Artery Disease and Stenting • Pathophysiology and clinical presentation of carotid artery stenosis • Carotid duplex ultrasound and angiography • Indications for carotid artery stenting (CAS) vs. carotid endarterectomy (CEA) • Technical considerations for carotid artery stenting • Outcomes and complications of carotid interventions 9. Endovenous and Peripheral Venous Interventions • Anatomy and pathophysiology of venous disease (varicose veins, venous insufficiency) • Diagnosis and management of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) • Endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) • Sclerotherapy and venous stripping • Venous stenting: indications, procedure, and complications 10. Congenital Heart Disease and Interventions • Interventional approaches for congenital defects (ASD, VSD, patent ductus arteriosus) • Pediatric and adult congenital heart disease intervention • Balloon angioplasty in congenital heart disease • Hybrid procedures and the role of surgery vs. intervention 11. Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) and Shock • Pathophysiology and classification of ACS: STEMI, NSTEMI, and unstable angina • Immediate management of ACS: pharmacological therapy, thrombolytics, and PCI • Cardiogenic shock: diagnosis, causes, and management strategies • Mechanical circulatory support devices: intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), ECMO, Impella • Role of interventional cardiology in managing ACS and shock 12. Coronary Physiology and Diagnostic Techniques • Measurement of coronary flow reserve (CFR) and fractional flow reserve (FFR) • Role of coronary reactivity testing and microvascular dysfunction • Invasive and non-invasive testing for coronary artery disease • Use of intracoronary imaging: IVUS, OCT for assessing coronary lesions • Role of coronary physiology in decision-making for revascularization 13. Hemostasis and Complications • Antithrombotic therapy in interventional cardiology • Anticoagulation and platelet inhibition strategies • Management of bleeding complications during and after procedures • Vascular access complications: hematoma, pseudoaneurysm, arteriovenous fistula • Managing contrast-induced nephropathy • Complications of PCI: perforation, dissection, thrombosis, restenosis 14. Post-Procedure Care and Long-Term Management • Post-procedural care protocols: monitoring, anticoagulation, and pain management • Early and long-term outcomes after coronary interventions • Secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease: lifestyle changes, medications • Management of restenosis and stent thrombosis • Rehabilitation and follow-up care after interventions 15. Ethical and Legal Considerations in Interventional Cardiology • Patient consent and decision-making in interventional cardiology • Ethical dilemmas in cardiovascular interventions • Legal issues related to malpractice and procedure-related complications • Managing patient expectations and outcomes communication • Health economics: cost-effectiveness of interventions, reimbursement policies 16. Emerging Technologies and Future Directions • Advancements in imaging technologies: 3D imaging, artificial intelligence in cardiology • Bioresorbable stents and devices • Stem cell therapy and regenerative medicine in cardiology • Advances in endovascular approaches: robotic-assisted interventions • Personalized medicine and genomic approaches to interventional cardiology