Certification Cardio Vascular Flashcards
7 cards from real CMC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Certification Cardio Vascular flashcards as text
Which imaging modality is considered the gold standard for quantifying myocardial viability before revascularization in ischemic cardiomyopathy?
Answer: Cardiac MRI with gadolinium late enhancement
Cardiac MRI with late gadolinium enhancement precisely quantifies transmural scar extent; myocardium with <50% LGE transmurality predicts functional recovery after revascularization.
A patient with known peripheral artery disease and hypertension requires an antihypertensive. Which class should be avoided due to risk of worsening claudication?
Answer: Non-selective beta-blockers
Non-selective beta-blockers can worsen peripheral artery disease symptoms by blocking beta-2-mediated vasodilation and leaving alpha-mediated vasoconstriction unopposed.
Which finding on invasive coronary angiography defines a fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurement indicating a hemodynamically significant lesion?
Answer: FFR ≤0.80
An FFR ≤0.80 measured during maximal hyperemia with adenosine is the validated threshold for hemodynamically significant coronary stenosis warranting revascularization.
A patient with aortic regurgitation has a widened pulse pressure of 80 mmHg. Which physical exam finding is directly caused by the wide pulse pressure?
Answer: Water-hammer (Corrigan) pulse
The Corrigan or water-hammer pulse is a bounding, rapid-rise and collapse peripheral pulse directly caused by the wide pulse pressure of significant aortic regurgitation.
In a patient with known long QT syndrome type 2 (LQT2), which trigger most commonly precipitates life-threatening arrhythmias?
Answer: Sudden auditory stimuli (e.g., alarm clock)
LQT2 is caused by KCNH2 mutations affecting the IKr channel; sudden auditory stimuli are the classic trigger for torsades de pointes in this genotype.
Which scoring system is used to predict 30-day mortality risk in patients presenting with acute decompensated heart failure?
Answer: ADHERE risk model
The ADHERE (Acute Decompensated Heart Failure National Registry) risk model stratifies in-hospital mortality for ADHF using BUN, creatinine, and systolic BP.
Which intervention has demonstrated mortality benefit specifically in patients with HFpEF (ejection fraction ≥50%)?
Answer: SGLT2 inhibitors (EMPEROR-Preserved trial)
Empagliflozin in EMPEROR-Preserved demonstrated reduced cardiovascular death and HF hospitalization in HFpEF, making SGLT2 inhibitors the first class with proven benefit in this population.