1
CARDIOLOGY PACKRAT EXAM NEWLY FORMATTED
STUDY GUIDE WITH ACTUAL 2025/26 EXAM
(u) A. Left ventricular failure results in the back-up of
blood
1. History & into the left atrium and then the pulmonary
Physical/Cardiology system so it would not be associated with
Which of the Kussmaul's sign.
following conditions (u) B. Pulmonary edema primarily results in increased
would cause a pulmonary pressures rather than having
positive effects on the venous inflow into the
Kussmaul's sign on heart.
physical examination? (u) C. Coarctation of the aorta primarily affects
outflow from
Answers
the heart due to the stenosis resulting in
A. Left ventricular failure
delayed and decreased femoral pulses; it has
B. Pulmonary edema
C. Coarctation of the
no effect on causing Kussmaul's sign.
aorta (c) D. Kussmaul's sign is an increase rather than the
normal
D. Constrictive decrease in the CVP during inspiration. It is
pericarditis
most often caused by severe right-sided
heart failure; it is a frequent finding in
patients with constrictive pericarditis or
right ventricular
infarction.
,2
2. History & (u) A. Pain changing with position or
Physical/Cardiology respiration is suggestive of pericarditis.
Anginal chest pain is (c) B. Myocardial ischemia is often
most commonly experienced as a sensation of discomfort
described as which lasting 5-15 minutes, described as dull,
of the aching or pressure.
following (u) C. Tearing pain with radiation to the back
? represents aortic dissection.
Answers (u) D. Chest pain lasting for several hours is
A. Pain changing with more suggestive for myocardial
position or respiration infarction.
B. A sensation of
discomfort
C. Tearing pain
radiating to the back
D. Pain lasting for several
hours
,3
3. History & (c) A. The amount of activity that
Physical/Cardiology precipitates dyspnea should be quantified
Eliciting a history from in the history.
a patient presenting (u) B. Orthopnea or paroxysmal nocturnal
with dyspnea due dyspnea can be quantified by how many
to early heart failure pillows a patient needs to sleep on to be
the severity of the comfortable.
dyspnea should be (u) C. How long dyspnea takes to resolve
quantified by or associated comorbidities has no bearing
Answers on quantifying the severity of dyspnea.
A. amount of
(u) D. See answer C above.
activity that
precipitates it.
B. how many pillows
they sleep on at
night.
C. how long it takes the
dyspnea to resolve.
D. any associated
comorbidities.
4. History & (u) A. Pulsus paradoxus is a classic
Physical/Cardiology A finding for cardiac tamponade.
25 year-old female (u) B. Localized crackles are associated with
presents with a three- pneumonia and consolidation, not
day history of chest pericarditis.
pain aggravated by (c) C. Pericardial friction rub is characteristic
coughing and of an inflammatory pericarditis.
relieved by sitting. (u) D. Wheezing is characteristic for
She is febrile and a pulmonary disorders, such as asthma.
CBC with
differential reveals
leukocytosis.
Which
, 4
of the following physical
exam signs is
characteristic of her
proble
m?
Answ
ers
A. Pulsus paradoxus
B. Localized crackles
C. Pericardial friction rub
D. Wheezing
5. History & (u) A. Patients with deep venous thrombosis (DVT) may
Physical/Cardiology A present with complaints of pain in the calf
65 year-old white with ambulation. Secondary varicosities
female may result from DVT's.
presents with dilated (c) B. Dull aching heaviness or a feeling of
tortuous veins fatigue brought on by periods of standing
on the medial is the most common complaint of
aspect of her lower patients presenting initially with
extremities. Which of varicosities.
the following would (u) C. Stasis Dermatitis and edema are most
be the most suggestive of chronic venous
common initial insufficiency.
(u) D. See C for explanation.
complaint?
Answers
A. Pain in the
calf with
ambulation
B. Dull aching heaviness
brought on by
periods of standing
C. Brownish
CARDIOLOGY PACKRAT EXAM NEWLY FORMATTED
STUDY GUIDE WITH ACTUAL 2025/26 EXAM
(u) A. Left ventricular failure results in the back-up of
blood
1. History & into the left atrium and then the pulmonary
Physical/Cardiology system so it would not be associated with
Which of the Kussmaul's sign.
following conditions (u) B. Pulmonary edema primarily results in increased
would cause a pulmonary pressures rather than having
positive effects on the venous inflow into the
Kussmaul's sign on heart.
physical examination? (u) C. Coarctation of the aorta primarily affects
outflow from
Answers
the heart due to the stenosis resulting in
A. Left ventricular failure
delayed and decreased femoral pulses; it has
B. Pulmonary edema
C. Coarctation of the
no effect on causing Kussmaul's sign.
aorta (c) D. Kussmaul's sign is an increase rather than the
normal
D. Constrictive decrease in the CVP during inspiration. It is
pericarditis
most often caused by severe right-sided
heart failure; it is a frequent finding in
patients with constrictive pericarditis or
right ventricular
infarction.
,2
2. History & (u) A. Pain changing with position or
Physical/Cardiology respiration is suggestive of pericarditis.
Anginal chest pain is (c) B. Myocardial ischemia is often
most commonly experienced as a sensation of discomfort
described as which lasting 5-15 minutes, described as dull,
of the aching or pressure.
following (u) C. Tearing pain with radiation to the back
? represents aortic dissection.
Answers (u) D. Chest pain lasting for several hours is
A. Pain changing with more suggestive for myocardial
position or respiration infarction.
B. A sensation of
discomfort
C. Tearing pain
radiating to the back
D. Pain lasting for several
hours
,3
3. History & (c) A. The amount of activity that
Physical/Cardiology precipitates dyspnea should be quantified
Eliciting a history from in the history.
a patient presenting (u) B. Orthopnea or paroxysmal nocturnal
with dyspnea due dyspnea can be quantified by how many
to early heart failure pillows a patient needs to sleep on to be
the severity of the comfortable.
dyspnea should be (u) C. How long dyspnea takes to resolve
quantified by or associated comorbidities has no bearing
Answers on quantifying the severity of dyspnea.
A. amount of
(u) D. See answer C above.
activity that
precipitates it.
B. how many pillows
they sleep on at
night.
C. how long it takes the
dyspnea to resolve.
D. any associated
comorbidities.
4. History & (u) A. Pulsus paradoxus is a classic
Physical/Cardiology A finding for cardiac tamponade.
25 year-old female (u) B. Localized crackles are associated with
presents with a three- pneumonia and consolidation, not
day history of chest pericarditis.
pain aggravated by (c) C. Pericardial friction rub is characteristic
coughing and of an inflammatory pericarditis.
relieved by sitting. (u) D. Wheezing is characteristic for
She is febrile and a pulmonary disorders, such as asthma.
CBC with
differential reveals
leukocytosis.
Which
, 4
of the following physical
exam signs is
characteristic of her
proble
m?
Answ
ers
A. Pulsus paradoxus
B. Localized crackles
C. Pericardial friction rub
D. Wheezing
5. History & (u) A. Patients with deep venous thrombosis (DVT) may
Physical/Cardiology A present with complaints of pain in the calf
65 year-old white with ambulation. Secondary varicosities
female may result from DVT's.
presents with dilated (c) B. Dull aching heaviness or a feeling of
tortuous veins fatigue brought on by periods of standing
on the medial is the most common complaint of
aspect of her lower patients presenting initially with
extremities. Which of varicosities.
the following would (u) C. Stasis Dermatitis and edema are most
be the most suggestive of chronic venous
common initial insufficiency.
(u) D. See C for explanation.
complaint?
Answers
A. Pain in the
calf with
ambulation
B. Dull aching heaviness
brought on by
periods of standing
C. Brownish
