Heart Failure USMLE Step 1 Practice Question
A term newborn develops tachypnea and cyanosis shortly after birth. The infant aspirated meconium during delivery. Echocardiography shows no structural heart defect, but pulmonary vascular resistance remains markedly elevated with right to left shunting across both the ductus arteriosus and foramen ovale. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
Answer choices
- APatent ductus arteriosus
- BCoarctation of the aorta
- CTransposition of the great arteries
- DPersistent pulmonary hypertension of the newbornCorrect answer
- ETetralogy of Fallot
- FTransient tachypnea of the newborn from delayed resorption of lung fluid
See the full explanation
Get the correct-answer rationale, why each distractor is wrong, the underlying mechanism, and high-yield associations — plus adaptive practice that targets your weak areas — with a free MedBoardPRO account.