cardiac specialist Interview Questions and Answers
-
What are the key differences between stable and unstable angina?
- Answer: Stable angina is predictable chest pain occurring during exertion and relieved by rest or nitroglycerin. Unstable angina is unpredictable, occurs at rest or with minimal exertion, and is often more severe and prolonged, indicating a higher risk of myocardial infarction.
-
Explain the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis.
- Answer: Atherosclerosis begins with endothelial dysfunction, leading to inflammation and the accumulation of lipids (cholesterol, triglycerides) within the arterial wall. This forms a fatty streak, which progresses to plaque formation with smooth muscle cell proliferation and fibrous cap development. Plaque rupture can lead to thrombosis and acute coronary syndromes.
-
Describe the diagnostic process for a suspected myocardial infarction (MI).
- Answer: Diagnosis involves evaluating symptoms (chest pain, shortness of breath, diaphoresis), ECG (ST-segment elevation or depression), cardiac biomarkers (troponin I and T), and potentially cardiac catheterization to assess coronary artery patency.
-
What are the risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD)?
- Answer: Major risk factors include: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, family history of CAD, obesity, physical inactivity, and age.
-
Explain the different types of heart failure.
- Answer: Heart failure is categorized into heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). HFrEF involves impaired systolic function, while HFpEF involves impaired diastolic function.
-
How is atrial fibrillation diagnosed and managed?
- Answer: Atrial fibrillation is diagnosed via ECG, which reveals irregularly irregular rhythm and absent P waves. Management includes rate control (beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers), rhythm control (antiarrhythmics, cardioversion), anticoagulation (warfarin, direct oral anticoagulants) to prevent stroke, and addressing underlying causes.
-
What are the complications of hypertension?
- Answer: Complications include stroke, heart attack, heart failure, kidney disease, blindness, and peripheral artery disease.
-
Describe the procedure of cardiac catheterization.
- Answer: A catheter is inserted into a blood vessel (usually in the groin or arm) and advanced to the heart chambers and coronary arteries. Contrast dye is injected to visualize the arteries, allowing assessment of blockages and stenosis.
-
What are the different types of cardiac pacemakers?
- Answer: Pacemakers are categorized by the chambers they pace (e.g., single-chamber, dual-chamber, biventricular) and their sensing and pacing capabilities (e.g., VVI, DDD).
Thank you for reading our blog post on 'cardiac specialist Interview Questions and Answers'.We hope you found it informative and useful.Stay tuned for more insightful content!