Cardiology Board Review general tips: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 13:58, 29 September 2012
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Data
There is no random data provided on the test. Capture the one line summary of what they are telling you in all the data. This is there for a reason. Use it to guide you in discerning what they are trying to test you on in this question. They ar testing you on scientifically validated in the peer review literature and in the guidelines. They are asking "Do I know the results of the __ trial". They keep the questions where half the people get it right. They throw out the ones with 80% right or 20% right.
Goal of the Exam
They are looking for you to integrate knowledge, not just regurgitate knowledge. This is not a test of basic science or rote knowledge.
Distracting Answers
These answers are not that close to the correct answer so that the test is fair. They are somewhat distant from the correct answer. Usually comes down to two answers.
Geography
Living in South America should trigger consideration of Chagas disease for instance.
Symptoms
Symptoms are provided because the guidelines are often based upon symptoms.
Treatment versus Diagnosis Options
Look for the one choice that is not diametrically opposed to the others, that is different from the others.
Dimensions
Dimensions are used to trigger your knowledge regarding the need for valve replacement or valve repair. You should know the dimensions that should trigger valve replacement in the guidelines.
EKG
Tests for pattern recognition skills. Review lots of complex EKGs. The EKGs can be tough but are fair. It usually comes down to 2 diagnoses, not 5 or 6. If you see VT, it is most likely it. Pick the most serious diagnosis that is threatening to the patient if you are not sure. Don't want left atrial enlargement, want ST elevation, heart block. Not small findings.
Images
Wrong answers are counted against you. Review still images
Distribution
- Valve dz 12%
- Arrhythmias 12%
- MI 12%
- Coronary artery disease 12.5%
- Vascular medicine 9% (aneurysms, Beurgers disease)
- Pharmacology 5%
- CHF 13%
- Phsyiology 6%
- Congenital heart disease 7%
- Hypertension 7%
- Pericardial disease 3%
- Miscellaneous / ethics / statistics / trial design 1.5%
Ethics
- Report impaired MDs
- Patient can shut their AICD off, and make decisions about their care.
On Cardiac Mediciation
This is a question about digoxin. They don't say what the medicine is.
South America
Scuba DIver
PFO with paradoxical embolism. TIA after scuba diving is PFO
Preganancy
Peripartum CMP Coronary dissection
Long Plane Flight
Weight Loss
- Fen fen
Deafness
Long QT
Swimming syncope
Long QT
Irish
Japan
Apical HOCM
Black Patient
response to meds Haitian Peripartum CMP Portugese Amyloid
Dialysis
If you see a fairly normal EKG think about
Long QT Brugada Ebsteins ASD WPW
PET Images
Assessing viability
Long Narratives
Read last paragraph, read questions
Shipyard
==Post-operative EKG]] Hypocalcemia will be seen on the EKG
Vomitting
The Asymptomatic Patient
Pilot is seen for an exam. There will not be a normal EKG. Look for:
Clinical Trials
- The board is one to two years behind.
- Trials that are two to five years old are included.
- Will ask about SCDheft trial
Diastolic Sound
- Is this a pericardial knock.
Splinter Hemorrhages
Will be called subungual hemorrhages
Forced Breath Holding
This is another term for the valsalva maneuver
What is not on the Test
- Questions with no clear answer
- Controversies
- Trials < 2 years old
- Guidelines < 1-2 years old
Common Diseases and Questions
- Constriction
- Restriction
- Myocarditis
- Ebstein's
- Cocaine toxicity
- Thrombophilia and anti-phospholipid syndrome
Physical Examination
- Know maneuvers that provoke findings
- Valsalva maneuver
- Leg rasing
PE with valve disease acute vs chronic
- Unusual presentation common dz
- Rare dz
complications trial data Image interpretation contraindications
lysis for storkes within 3 hours, up to 6
risk of ICH black perior stroke low body wt
- Know how to interpret peripehreal testing
Marfan intervatnion
Diagnosis of Storke
vascularitis' GCA Takaysus AAA Thoracic abeurysm ao vasculitis
PFOASDVSDteralog Ebsteins always there pulmoanry bvalve bicuspid ao dis
no complex cong no double outlet
sudden death
platypnea ortho doxia: PFO ASD hered tel
PFO: seconary prev anticog knwo i
23 to 25 valve questions Mitral and aortic rev
AS with poor LV asx pat repair vs repl
low gradient AS choice of prosthesis
pericarial: 3% pericarditis constriction congenital absence of pericardial dz tamponade vs constriction EKG of acute peric trick you into given lytic, always remember peric and PR depression regional tamponade after surgery, take back to surgery, usually of RV low pressure tamponade
Lateral CXR
Look for
- Pericardial calcification
- Pacer lead position
- RV size is a less likely choice
Physiology
- RAS
- Endothelial function
- Platelet receptor physiology