Heart Failure USMLE Step 1 Practice Question
A 41-year-old woman presents to the emergency department following a stab wound to the left anterior chest. She reports dyspnea and anxiety. Vital signs: BP 82/54 mm Hg, HR 118/min, RR 24/min, temp 37.2°C. Physical examination reveals distant heart sounds, jugular venous distension, and clear bilateral lung fields. Chest X-ray shows widened mediastinum. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
Answer choices
- ACardiac tamponadeCorrect answer
- BHeart failure with reduced ejection fraction
- CRestrictive cardiomyopathy
- DConstrictive pericarditis
- EDilated cardiomyopathy
- FTension pneumothorax
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