Practice Test GeeksCSC - Cardiac Subspecialty Certification Exam Practice Test
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Cardiac Subspecialty Certification Flashcards

7 cards from real CSC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

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  1. A patient with mitral stenosis has a mitral valve area of 0.9 cm² and mean gradient of 12 mmHg at rest. She is in sinus rhythm with no significant mitral regurgitation. Which intervention is MOST appropriate?

    Answer: Percutaneous mitral balloon commissurotomy (PMBC)

    PMBC is the preferred intervention for severe symptomatic mitral stenosis with favorable valve morphology (Wilkins score ≤8) and no significant MR or LA thrombus.

  2. Which blood pressure goal is recommended during the first 24 hours in a patient with acute aortic dissection (Type A) awaiting surgical repair?

    Answer: SBP <120 mmHg and HR <60 bpm

    Target SBP <120 mmHg and HR <60 bpm with IV beta-blockers (e.g., esmolol, labetalol) to reduce aortic wall stress before urgent surgical repair.

  3. A 45-year-old with no cardiac history has a resting 12-lead ECG showing ST segment elevation in V1–V2 with a right bundle branch block pattern. He denies symptoms. Which condition should be PRIMARILY suspected?

    Answer: Brugada syndrome

    Spontaneous Type 1 Brugada pattern (coved ST elevation ≥2 mm in V1–V2 with RBBB morphology) in an asymptomatic patient is diagnostic of Brugada syndrome.

  4. In a patient with long QT syndrome type 2 (LQT2), which environmental trigger is MOST likely to provoke a potentially fatal arrhythmia?

    Answer: Auditory stimuli (e.g., loud sounds, alarm clocks)

    LQT2 is caused by HERG (IKr) channel mutations and arrhythmias are most commonly triggered by auditory stimuli, particularly sudden loud noises.

  5. A patient on warfarin for mechanical aortic valve (INR 2.8) needs urgent non-cardiac surgery. Which bridging strategy is MOST appropriate?

    Answer: Stop warfarin; bridge with IV unfractionated heparin

    Mechanical heart valves carry high thromboembolic risk; IV unfractionated heparin bridging is recommended when warfarin must be stopped for urgent surgery.

  6. Which finding on right heart catheterization is MOST consistent with a large ventricular septal defect (VSD) with left-to-right shunt?

    Answer: Step-up in oxygen saturation from right atrium to right ventricle

    A significant oxygen saturation step-up (≥5–7%) from the right atrium to right ventricle indicates a left-to-right shunt at the ventricular level (VSD).

  7. A patient with chronic kidney disease (eGFR 25 mL/min) requires coronary angiography. Which strategy BEST reduces risk of contrast-induced nephropathy?

    Answer: Iso-osmolar or low-osmolar contrast with IV saline hydration before and after

    Use of low- or iso-osmolar contrast with adequate IV isotonic saline hydration remains the best-supported strategy to prevent contrast nephropathy.