Hu Said: Cardiology Board Review Series

What is the new term for hypertensive urgency? When is single-pill combination antihypertensive indicated? Do ACEI/ARB, MRA, and thiazide or potassium-sparing diuretics need to be held for initial te…

Can music help us understand cardiac arrhythmias? 🎵💓 In this special podcast episode, I explore how musical notation can be used to visualize and "hear" ECG rhythms, providing an intuitive and struct…

Should non-culprit lesions be revascularized in STEMI and NSTEMI? Should revascularization of non-culprit lesions occur in a simultaneous or staged manner? How do these recommendations differ when ac…

In this episode, we review congenital single ventricle, including physiology, surgical repair, and long-term management. What are the different types of univentricular heart defects, and how do they …

In this episode, we review transposition of the great arteries (TGA), including the physiology, imaging, repair strategies, and potential complications. What is the difference between D-TGA (complete…

In this episode, we review right side congenital abnormalities, including Ebstein’s anomaly, double-chambered right ventricle (DCRV), tricuspid hypoplasia, and pulmonic hypoplasia. Which condition is…

In this episode, we review Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), including its pre-repair issues, surgical options, and post-repair complications. What are the four cardinal abnormalities seen in TOF, and how d…

In this episode, we review coarctation of the aorta (CoA), including its epidemiology, presentation, imaging, and management. Which type of VSD is commonly seen in patients with CoA? What proportion …

In this episode, we review the physiology, imaging, and management of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). What is the classic murmur of PDA, and how does it change with shunt reversal? Why do patients wi…

In this episode, we explore anomalous pulmonary venous return (APVR), including its types, associated conditions, and management. What is the difference between total anomalous pulmonary venous retur…

In this episode, we explore atrioventricular septal defects (AVSD), covering its types, physiology, and when to intervene. How do complete, partial, transitional, and intermediate AV septal defects d…

In this episode, we review ventricular septal defects (VSDs), including their types, physiology, and management. What are the differences between inlet, outlet, membranous, and trabecular VSDs? How d…

In this episode, we review patent foramen ovale (PFO), including its types, physiology, presentation, and when to intervene. How does a PFO differ from an atrial septal defect (ASD), and why does PFO…

In this episode, we review atrial septal defects (ASDs), including their types, imaging, and management. What is the difference between secundum defect, primum defect, sinus venosus defect, and coron…

In this episode, we review the epidemiology of congenital heart diseases and develop a framework for categorizing them by cyanotic and non-cyanotic disorders, and go over physiologic concepts across …

In this episode, we review highlights of cardiovascular considerations in pregnancy. How does pregnancy affect blood volume, systemic vascular resistance, pulmonary vascular resistance, heart rate, a…

In this episode, we review cardiac masses, including primary benign, primary malignant, and secondary (metastatic) cardiac tumors. Are malignant tumors much more likely to occur in the ventricles or …

In this episode, we review orthostatic hypotension (OH). What criteria define OH? What is a simple way to distinguish neurogenic OH from volume depletion-related OH? What criteria define postural ort…

In this episode, we explore the diagnosis and management of three important causes of secondary hypertension: renovascular hypertension, primary aldosteronism, and pheochromocytoma. Which segments of…

In this episode, we review hypertensive urgency and emergency. What counts as "end-organ" damage in hypertensive emergency? What neurological signs are consistent with hypertensive encephalopathy? Wh…