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OVERVIEW
This page is dedicated to organizing various examples of standardized exam questions whose answer is aortic stenosis. While this may seem a odd practice, it is useful to see multiple examples of how aortic stenosis 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.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS CONDITION (ON EXAMS)
When it comes to standardized exams, each condition has its own “code” marked by key buzzwords, lab findings, clues, etc. If you are well versed in this code you will be able to more quickly identify the condition that is being discussed, and get the right answer on the exam you are taking. Below is the “code” for aortic stenosis.
- Systolic murmur
- Crescendo/decrescendo murmur: the loudest point of the murmur is in the middle of systole
- Radiates to the carotid arteries.
QUESTION EXAMPLES
Question # 1
Explanation # 1
Question # 2
Explanation # 2
TESTABLE FACTS ABOUT THIS CONDITION (BEYOND ITS IDENTIFICATION)
Many questions on standardized exams go beyond simply recognizing the underlying condition. Often there are specific testable facts regarding some aspect of the disease’s pathophysiology/management/clinical implications that are commonly asked. Some of these are listed below:
- Complications: in many patients with aortic stenosis, atrial fibrillation can develop (due to increased stretching/strain on the left atrium).
Page Updated: 04.05.2017