Cardiovascular & Respiratory Emergencies Flashcards
7 cards from real ABEM practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Cardiovascular & Respiratory Emergencies flashcards as text
A 55-year-old man with hypertension presents with acute pulmonary edema. His BP is 220/130 mmHg. Which vasodilator acts primarily as a venodilator to rapidly reduce preload?
Answer: Nitroglycerin
Nitroglycerin at low doses acts primarily as a venodilator, rapidly reducing preload and relieving acute pulmonary congestion.
Which of the following is the MOST common cause of massive hemoptysis requiring emergency intervention?
Answer: Bronchiectasis
Bronchiectasis is the most common cause of massive hemoptysis due to hypertrophied bronchial arteries and recurrent infections.
A patient presents in wide-complex tachycardia at 180 bpm, is hemodynamically stable. The rhythm is regular and the QRS morphology is LBBB pattern. The SAFEST initial pharmacologic treatment is:
Answer: Procainamide
Procainamide is the preferred agent for stable wide-complex tachycardia of uncertain origin; verapamil and other AV nodal blockers can cause deterioration in VT.
In a patient with suspected tension pneumothorax, what is the IMMEDIATE management?
Answer: Needle decompression at 2nd ICS midclavicular line
Tension pneumothorax is a clinical diagnosis requiring immediate needle decompression without waiting for imaging to prevent cardiac arrest.
A 62-year-old female presents with acute dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain, and leg swelling after a 10-hour flight. D-dimer is elevated. The MOST appropriate next step is:
Answer: CT pulmonary angiography
CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) is the gold standard imaging study for diagnosing pulmonary embolism in patients with intermediate-to-high clinical probability.
Which arrhythmia is MOST commonly associated with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome presenting as a wide-complex tachycardia?
Answer: Atrial fibrillation with accessory pathway conduction
Atrial fibrillation conducting rapidly down an accessory pathway in WPW produces a wide, irregular, potentially life-threatening tachycardia.
A patient with acute STEMI develops cardiogenic shock. After PCI, which medication should be AVOIDED as it may worsen outcomes in this setting?
Answer: High-dose vasopressors as primary treatment without PCI
High-dose vasopressors increase afterload and myocardial oxygen demand; early revascularization with PCI is the priority in cardiogenic shock from STEMI.