Practice Test Geeks(ABEM) American Board of Emergency Medicine Practice Test
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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

  1. A 58-year-old male presents with acute onset tearing chest pain radiating to the back, BP 180/100 in the right arm and 140/85 in the left arm. The most likely diagnosis is:

    Answer: Aortic dissection

    Aortic dissection classically presents with tearing back pain and a blood pressure differential >20 mmHg between arms.

  2. Which of the following ECG findings is MOST specific for right heart strain in pulmonary embolism?

    Answer: S1Q3T3 pattern

    The S1Q3T3 pattern (S wave in lead I, Q wave and T-wave inversion in lead III) is the classic but not sensitive ECG finding in PE suggesting right heart strain.

  3. A patient with known COPD presents with acute exacerbation. SpO2 is 82%. What is the target oxygen saturation range for this patient?

    Answer: 88-92%

    In COPD patients with chronic hypercapnia, target SpO2 is 88-92% to avoid suppressing the hypoxic drive and worsening hypercapnia.

  4. A 45-year-old woman presents with sudden syncope. ECG shows a prolonged QTc of 520ms and polymorphic VT. The first-line treatment is:

    Answer: Magnesium sulfate IV

    Torsades de pointes (polymorphic VT with prolonged QT) is treated first with IV magnesium sulfate 1-2g regardless of serum magnesium level.

  5. In cardiac tamponade, Beck's triad includes hypotension, muffled heart sounds, and:

    Answer: Jugular venous distension

    Beck's triad consists of hypotension, muffled heart sounds, and jugular venous distension (JVD) due to impaired cardiac filling.

  6. A 70-year-old diabetic male presents with 2 hours of vague epigastric discomfort and diaphoresis. ECG shows new ST elevation in leads II, III, and aVF. The culprit artery is most likely:

    Answer: Right coronary artery

    ST elevation in inferior leads II, III, and aVF indicates inferior STEMI, most commonly caused by right coronary artery (RCA) occlusion.

  7. Which finding on bedside ultrasound is MOST diagnostic of pneumothorax?

    Answer: Absence of lung sliding with A-lines

    Absence of lung sliding combined with A-lines (and a lung point) on ultrasound is highly sensitive and specific for pneumothorax.