OVERVIEW
This page is dedicated to organizing various examples of standardized exam questions whose answer is orthostatic hypotension. While this may seem a odd practice, it is useful to see multiple examples of how orthostatic hypotension will be characterized on standardized exams (namely the boards and the shelf exams). This page is not meant to be used as a traditional question bank (as all of the answers will be the same), however seeing the classic “test” characterization for a disease is quite valuable.
QUESTION EXAMPLES
Question # 1
75-year-old male comes to the ED after a syncopal episode. He explains that he was resting in bed for about one week after injuring his right knee. This morning, after his knee felt better he tried to get out up from bed. When this happens he sustained a brief episode of lost consciousness. He denies any other symptoms for medical history that is relevant other than his knee injury. Medications that he is currently taking include acetaminophen and ibuprofen for the knee pain. Physical exam reveals a pulse of 73 bpm, respirations 14 per minute, and blood pressure is 135/85 mmHg. What is the likely cause of the patient’s syncope?
Page Updated: 02.13.2017