Heart Failure USMLE Step 1 Practice Question
A 70-year-old man presents with hypotension (BP 85/52 mmHg), tachycardia (HR 118/min), and cool, clammy extremities several hours after a large anterior myocardial infarction. Physical examination reveals elevated jugular venous pressure and diffuse bilateral crackles. Chest X-ray shows pulmonary edema. He denies orthopnea. Troponin I is elevated at 8.5 ng/mL. He takes no home medications. Which hemodynamic profile best characterizes this condition?
Answer choices
- ADecreased cardiac output, increased wedge pressure, decreased systemic vascular resistance
- BDecreased cardiac output, increased pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, increased systemic vascular resistanceCorrect answer
- CDecreased cardiac output, decreased wedge pressure, increased systemic vascular resistance
- DIncreased cardiac output, decreased wedge pressure, decreased systemic vascular resistance
- ENormal cardiac output, normal wedge pressure, increased systemic vascular resistance
- FHigh cardiac output, low systemic vascular resistance, warm extremities
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