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CARDIOLOGY BOARDS ABIM EXAM 2 LATEST VERSIONS ACTUAL EXAM 350 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES|ALREADY GRADED A+
CARDIOLOGY BOARDS ABIM EXAM 2 LATEST VERSIONS
2026-2027 ACTUAL EXAM 350 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES|ALREADY
GRADED A+
VERSION A
How do positional maneuvers affect blood flow and murmurs?
a) Standing/Valsalva
b) Squatting/Lying down
c) Sustained handgrip - ANSWER- -standing/valsalva - decreased
cardiac filling, decreases most murmurs except MVP and HOCM
-squatting/ lying down - increase cardiac volume, increased
murmurs except MVP, HOCM
-sustained handgrip - increases systemic resistance, decreases
murmur in HOCM, AS
What are the stages of the Valsalva maneuver? - ANSWER- -Phase one
is the onset of straining with increased intrathoracic pressure. The heart
rate does not change but blood pressure rises.
-Phase two is marked by the decreased venous return and consequent
reduction of stroke volume and pulse pressure as straining continues.
The heart rate increases and blood pressure drops.
-Phase three is the release of straining with decreased intrathoracic
pressure and normalization of pulmonary blood flow.
-Phase four marks the blood pressure overshoot (in the normal heart)
with return of the heart rate to baseline.
What causes a physiologic split S2? - ANSWER- Increased blood
volume in the RV prolongs systole and delays pulmonary valve closure
What causes a fixed split S2? - ANSWER- Pulmonary stenosis, PE, LV
pacer, RBBB, MR (early AV closure), ASD, RV failue
What causes a paradoxic split S2 - ANSWER- LBBB, RV pacing,
HOCM
What causes an S3? - ANSWER- Rapid LV filling - acute ventricular
decompensation, severe AR or MR
What causes a S4? - ANSWER- Decreased ventricular compliance
during atrial contraction - ischemic heart dz, AS, MR, HOCM,
hypertrophic or diabetic cardiomyopathy, HTN heart dz, concentric
LVH
Can you have a S4 with atrial fibrillation? - ANSWER- No - no atrial
contraction
What are the parts of the venous waveform? - ANSWER- A wave -
atrial contraction
X descent - atria relax, RV fills rapidly; Bottom/middle of x descent is
TC valve closure (c wave)
V wave - ventricle contacting against closed TC valve
Y descent - TC valve opens, passive emptying into ventricle
What gives elevated a and v waves - ANSWER- Pulmonary HTN, RV
infarction
What leads to Large r side v waves - ANSWER- Septal rupture
What diseases lead to Large v waves - ANSWER- TR (right), MR (left)
Rapid x and y descent - ANSWER- Constrictive pericarditis, restrictive
cardiomyopathy, tamponade (x descent only, loss of y descent)
Large a waves - ANSWER- TS, severe RVH (on right), MS
Cannon a waves - ANSWER- AV disassociation - complete heart block,
ventricular pacing
Slow Y descent - ANSWER- Delayed atrial emptying - TS
Most important prognostic factor with CAD - ANSWER- Degree of LV
dysfunction
Causes of resting ST elevation - ANSWER- MI, pericarditis, LV
aneurysm, LBBB, ventricular pacing, LVH, early repolarization
Giving nitrates causes severe decompensation in a IWMI pt. What
happened? - ANSWER- Pt had R side infarction as well, the preload
reduction from the nitrate now meant little flow getting to the L side of
the heart
MR due to papillary muscle rupture is most common with MI in this
region - ANSWER- Inferior; posteromedial papillary muscle has only
single vessel supply (RCA) while the anterolateral has two vessels
VSD is more likely with MIs here - ANSWER- Anterior, inferior
Contraindications for B-blockers - ANSWER- Bradycardia,
hypotension, 2nd or 3rd degree AVB, pulmonary edema, asthma. NOT
DM
When to use non-dihydropyridne CCBs in ACS - ANSWERContraindications to B blockers, continued ischemia, but NO LV
dysfunction
What anticoagulant to use with ACS - ANSWER- Enoxaparin good, but
have to stop 12-24 hrs before CABG
Fondaparinux is increased risk of bleeding, do not use if going to do PCI
- increased risk of catheter thrombosis and coronary complications
If using Fondaparinux and decide to do PCI, change to heparin or
bivalirudin
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