ECG Interpretation Quiz

Increased preload, or the amount of blood in the ventricle at the end of diastole, can be caused by excessive fluid intake, excessive sodium intake, and kidney disease. This leads to increased pressure in the ventricle before contraction and can contribute to heart failure.

NYHA class III heart failure is characterized by marked limitation of physical activity, meaning even mild exertion triggers symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath, or chest pain. These patients often struggle with daily tasks and need frequent rest.

An atherosclerotic plaque, which is a buildup of fatty deposits in the artery wall, consists of a lipid core (fatty material), a fibrous cap (a tough outer layer), and inflammatory cells. This combination can narrow the artery, restricting blood flow.

Fevers are the most common symptom observed in patients with infective endocarditis, an infection affecting the heart's inner lining. This fever often accompanies chills and other symptoms like fatigue and weakness.

The left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery, which supplies blood to a significant portion of the left ventricle, is frequently implicated in ST-segment elevation, especially in anterior leads (V1-V5) on an ECG, in patients with acute coronary syndromes, particularly STEMI. The LAD is a 'workhorse' of the heart.

Surgical intervention is indicated in patients with infective endocarditis (IE) when there is heart failure (the heart cannot effectively pump blood), embolization (pieces of the infected material break off and travel to other parts of the body), or persistent bacteremia, an ongoing presence of bacteria in the bloodstream despite antibiotic treatment.

The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) classification for heart failure with an ejection fraction (EF) greater than 50% is known as heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). This means the heart can still pump out a good amount of blood, but it might not be efficient enough to meet the body's needs.

The most common cause of community-acquired pneumonia, an infection of the lungs typically contracted outside of a healthcare setting, is Streptococcus pneumoniae, a type of bacteria frequently found in the respiratory tract.

Abdominal pain is not typical of pneumonia. Pneumonia primarily affects the lungs, causing symptoms like cough, fever, shortness of breath, and chest pain.

Streptococcus pneumoniae, a common bacteria found in the respiratory tract, is the most frequent cause of bacterial meningitis in adults. This infection involves the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a bacteria responsible for tuberculosis (TB), is the most common cause of this infectious disease worldwide. TB primarily affects the lungs but can also spread to other organs.

The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) defines heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) as having an ejection fraction (EF) less than 40%. In HFrEF the left ventricle is not pumping effectively and blood is not being moved forward efficiently.

Hypertension, an elevated blood pressure, can lead to heart failure. Over time, high blood pressure can put strain on the heart, causing it to weaken and become less efficient.

In adults over 40, a third heart sound (S3 gallop) during auscultation is often a normal finding, especially if they have heart failure. This extra heart sound is created by the rapid filling of the ventricle in diastole.

Increased shortness of breath (dyspnea), fatigue, and edema (swelling) during clinical history can all indicate a heart failure diagnosis. These are often found in patients with heart failure and represent the heart's weakened ability to pump blood effectively.

Coffee-ground emesis (vomit that looks like coffee grounds) and melena (dark, tarry stools) can occur due to upper gastrointestinal bleeding, often associated with conditions like peptic ulcer, esophageal varices, and gastritis.

The most likely cause of severe constipation in a patient with a history of atrial fibrillation (a type of irregular heartbeat) and inflamed hemorrhoids is a side effect of medication. Many drugs, particularly some used to treat heart conditions, can cause constipation as a side effect.

Iron deficiency anemia is the most likely cause of microcytic hypochromic anemia, a type of anemia characterized by small, pale red blood cells, in a 68-year-old man with pallor (paleness), fatigue, and dyspnea on exertion (shortness of breath with activity). Iron is essential for red blood cell production.

An ejection fraction of 45% suggests systolic dysfunction during an echocardiography exam. Systolic dysfunction means the heart is not pumping blood out as effectively as it should. Less blood is pumped out = Bad.

The most likely complication for a patient receiving chronic anticoagulant therapy (blood thinners) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for joint pain is gastrointestinal bleeding. These medications together increases the risk of bleeding.

The most possible complication for a patient hospitalized for severe anemia who presents with heavy, prolonged diarrhea and vomiting is dehydration. These symptoms lead to significant fluid loss.

The most likely diagnosis for a patient with oliguria (reduced urine output), high white blood cell count, possible hematuria (blood in the urine) with dysmorphic red blood cells is acute kidney injury. These are classic signs of kidney damage.

The most likely cause of a 5-year-old girl's symptoms of epistaxis (nosebleeds), fever, multiple cutaneous petechiae (small red spots on the skin), palpable splenomegaly (enlarged spleen), and low cell counts with a preponderance of lymphoblasts is acute lymphoblastic leukemia. These symptoms are consistent with a type of blood cancer affecting the lymphocytes.

The likely cause of sudden onset of pleuritic chest pain (chest pain that worsens with breathing), hemoptysis (coughing up blood), tachypnea (rapid breathing), tachycardia (rapid heartbeat), and dyspnea (shortness of breath) in a 50-year-old woman is pulmonary embolism. A blood clot in the lungs can cause these symptoms.

The characteristic feature of nephrotic syndrome, a kidney disorder characterized by protein loss in the urine, is massive proteinuria, meaning a large amount of protein in the urine. This loss can lead to edema, low blood albumin, and high cholesterol.

The characteristic feature of membranous nephropathy, a type of kidney disease affecting the filtering units of the kidneys, is thickening of the glomerular basement membrane, a thin layer surrounding the capillaries in the glomerulus. This thickening can hinder the filtering process.

The characteristic feature of mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis, a kidney disease affecting the glomeruli, is mesangial proliferation, an increase in the number of mesangial cells, and basement membrane thickening. These changes can affect filtering and lead to proteinuria and hematuria.