CARDIOLOGY BOARDS ABIM COMPLETE EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ACCURATE ANSWERS |ALREADY PASSED!!
Question 1
What are the normal ranges for Right Atrial (RA) pressure, Right Ventricular (RV) pressure,
and Pulmonary Capillary Wedge Pressure (PCWP) typically found via a PA catheter?
A) RA <5, RV 25/5, PCWP 5-10
B) RA <7, RV 30/7, PCWP 3-11
C) RA <10, RV 35/10, PCWP 8-15
D) RA <3, RV 20/3, PCWP 1-5
E) RA <12, RV 40/12, PCWP 10-18
Correct Answer: B) RA <7, RV 30/7, PCWP 3-11
Rationale: These are the standard hemodynamic reference ranges used in
cardiology.
Question 2
A patient presents with diastolic pressures that are elevated and equalized in all cardiac
chambers, along with low blood pressure, tachycardia, and interventricular dependence (septal
bounce). These PA catheter findings are characteristic of:
A) Cardiogenic shock
B) Mitral stenosis with RV failure
C) Pulmonary hypertension
D) Tamponade or constrictive pericarditis
E) Aortic stenosis
Correct Answer: D) Tamponade or constrictive pericarditis
Rationale: The equalization of diastolic pressures is a hallmark of these conditions
due to external compression or restriction of the heart.
,Question 3
PA catheter findings of elevated PCWP, elevated RA pressure, and decreased SBP/cardiac
output are indicative of:
A) Tamponade
B) Constrictive pericarditis
C) Mitral stenosis
D) Pulmonary hypertension
E) Cardiogenic shock
Correct Answer: E) Cardiogenic shock
Rationale: Cardiogenic shock involves severe pump failure, leading to high filling
pressures and low cardiac output.
Question 4
In a patient with mitral stenosis complicated by RV failure, what PA catheter findings would be
expected?
A) Elevated PA, RA pressures, normal PCWP, normal SBP.
B) Elevated PCWP, RA pressure, and decreased SBP/cardiac output.
C) Diastolic pressures elevated and equalized in all chambers.
D) Elevated RA, PA (very elevated), PCWP, normal SBP (initially).
E) Normal RA, PA, PCWP, but low SBP.
Correct Answer: D) Elevated RA, PA (very elevated), PCWP, normal SBP (initially).
Rationale: Mitral stenosis leads to increased left atrial pressure, which backs up into
the pulmonary circulation (elevated PCWP and PA). RV failure would further
elevate RA pressure.
, Question 5
Elevated PA and RA pressures with a normal PCWP and SBP are characteristic PA catheter
findings in:
A) Cardiogenic shock
B) Mitral stenosis
C) Tamponade
D) Constrictive pericarditis
E) Pulmonary hypertension
Correct Answer: E) Pulmonary hypertension
Rationale: Pulmonary hypertension is elevated pressure in the pulmonary arteries,
which can lead to increased right heart pressures (RA, RV) but typically does not
directly affect the left heart filling pressure (PCWP) unless severe RV dysfunction
impacts LV filling.
Question 6
What is "Pulsus paradoxus" defined as?
A) An increase in systolic BP of more than 10mmHg with normal inspiration.
B) A weakened pulse with expiration.
C) A decrease in systolic BP of more than 10mmHg with normal inspiration.
D) Two systolic peaks per cardiac cycle.
E) Alternating strong and weak pulse beats.
Correct Answer: C) A decrease in systolic BP of more than 10mmHg with normal
inspiration.
AND ACCURATE ANSWERS |ALREADY PASSED!!
Question 1
What are the normal ranges for Right Atrial (RA) pressure, Right Ventricular (RV) pressure,
and Pulmonary Capillary Wedge Pressure (PCWP) typically found via a PA catheter?
A) RA <5, RV 25/5, PCWP 5-10
B) RA <7, RV 30/7, PCWP 3-11
C) RA <10, RV 35/10, PCWP 8-15
D) RA <3, RV 20/3, PCWP 1-5
E) RA <12, RV 40/12, PCWP 10-18
Correct Answer: B) RA <7, RV 30/7, PCWP 3-11
Rationale: These are the standard hemodynamic reference ranges used in
cardiology.
Question 2
A patient presents with diastolic pressures that are elevated and equalized in all cardiac
chambers, along with low blood pressure, tachycardia, and interventricular dependence (septal
bounce). These PA catheter findings are characteristic of:
A) Cardiogenic shock
B) Mitral stenosis with RV failure
C) Pulmonary hypertension
D) Tamponade or constrictive pericarditis
E) Aortic stenosis
Correct Answer: D) Tamponade or constrictive pericarditis
Rationale: The equalization of diastolic pressures is a hallmark of these conditions
due to external compression or restriction of the heart.
,Question 3
PA catheter findings of elevated PCWP, elevated RA pressure, and decreased SBP/cardiac
output are indicative of:
A) Tamponade
B) Constrictive pericarditis
C) Mitral stenosis
D) Pulmonary hypertension
E) Cardiogenic shock
Correct Answer: E) Cardiogenic shock
Rationale: Cardiogenic shock involves severe pump failure, leading to high filling
pressures and low cardiac output.
Question 4
In a patient with mitral stenosis complicated by RV failure, what PA catheter findings would be
expected?
A) Elevated PA, RA pressures, normal PCWP, normal SBP.
B) Elevated PCWP, RA pressure, and decreased SBP/cardiac output.
C) Diastolic pressures elevated and equalized in all chambers.
D) Elevated RA, PA (very elevated), PCWP, normal SBP (initially).
E) Normal RA, PA, PCWP, but low SBP.
Correct Answer: D) Elevated RA, PA (very elevated), PCWP, normal SBP (initially).
Rationale: Mitral stenosis leads to increased left atrial pressure, which backs up into
the pulmonary circulation (elevated PCWP and PA). RV failure would further
elevate RA pressure.
, Question 5
Elevated PA and RA pressures with a normal PCWP and SBP are characteristic PA catheter
findings in:
A) Cardiogenic shock
B) Mitral stenosis
C) Tamponade
D) Constrictive pericarditis
E) Pulmonary hypertension
Correct Answer: E) Pulmonary hypertension
Rationale: Pulmonary hypertension is elevated pressure in the pulmonary arteries,
which can lead to increased right heart pressures (RA, RV) but typically does not
directly affect the left heart filling pressure (PCWP) unless severe RV dysfunction
impacts LV filling.
Question 6
What is "Pulsus paradoxus" defined as?
A) An increase in systolic BP of more than 10mmHg with normal inspiration.
B) A weakened pulse with expiration.
C) A decrease in systolic BP of more than 10mmHg with normal inspiration.
D) Two systolic peaks per cardiac cycle.
E) Alternating strong and weak pulse beats.
Correct Answer: C) A decrease in systolic BP of more than 10mmHg with normal
inspiration.
