Part 21 (70)

A 64-year-old male who has not seen a doctor for the past 20 years presents to the emergency room with excruciating chest pain that stated suddenly about three hours ago. He describes the pain as tearing in quality and says that it radiates to his back. On physical examination, you hear an early diastolic decrescendo murmur at the sternal border. Chest X-ray shows widening of the superior mediastinum. EKG is normal. Which of the following medical conditions most likely accounts for this patients presentation?

A 45-year-old recently immigrated Mexican farmer comes to your office complaining of dyspnea, fatigue and abdominal distention for the past two months. On physical exam, his temperature is 37°C (98°F), blood pressure is 126/80 mmHg, pulse is 80/min, and respirations are16/min. You note pedal edema, elevated jugular venous pressure with positive Kussmaul's sign, and increased abdominal girth with free fluid. Chest auscultation reveals decreased heart sound intensity at the apex and an early heart sound following S2. The jugular venous pressure tracing shows prominent 'x’ and 'y' descents. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's symptoms?

A 45-year-old mildly overweight male recovering from an anterior wall myocardial infarction develops sudden onset of sharp pain in the left side of his chest. He presented five days earlier with substernal chest pain and diaphoresis. He has had no dyspnea, extremity swelling or palpitations since admission. His past medical history is significant for diabetes mellitus type 2. He seems mildly restless, especially in the supine position. The pain improves when sitting up and leaning forward. His breathing is fast and shallow due to the pain. His lungs are clear on auscultation. His blood pressure is 120/78 mmHg and his heart rate is 60/min There is no change in blood pressure upon deep inspiration. ECG shows sinus rhythm with new diffuse ST segment elevation. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

A 23-year-old woman who is 26 weeks pregnant presents to the emergency department with sudden onset severe shortness of breath and inability to lie flat. She recently emigrated from Eastern Europa. Her medical history is significant for recurrent sore throats requiring tonsillectomy as a child. Presently, her blood pressure is 110/60 mmHg and her heart rate is 120/min. An EKG rhythm strip suggests atrial fibrillation. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

A 63-year-old Caucasian female presents to the emergency room with a recent onset of left-sided Weakness. She has been experiencing increased fatigability, low-grade fevers and occasional palpitations over the past two months. She has lost seven pounds during the same period. Her temperature is 37°C (98.6°F), pulse is 80/min (regular), blood pressure is 120/76mmHg and respirations are 14/min. Her lungs are clear. Cardiac auscultation reveals normal first and second heat sounds and a mid-diastolic rumble at the apex. Echocardiography shows a mass in the left atrium. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

A 56-year-old male presents with progressively worsening dyspnea and ankle edema. He denies chest pain syncope or palpitations. He does not smoke or drink alcohol. He denies diabetes mellitus, hypertension, or hyperlipidemia. His temperature is 37.1°C (98.7°F), pulse is 70/min, blood pressure is 136/70mmHg, and respirations are 15/min. Examination shows elevated jugular venous pressure, bilateral ankle edema, and tender hepatomegaly. Chest auscultation shows bibasilar rales. His heat sounds are distant and there is no murmur. Chest x-ray shows mild cardiomegaly and a right-sided pleural effusion. ECG shows low voltage QRS complexes and nonspecific ST-T wave changes. Echocardiography shows normal left ventricular volume with symmetrical thickening of the left ventricular walls and slightly reduced systolic function. Which of the following would represent a potentially reversible cause of this patient’s heat disease?

A 55-year-old male presents to the emergency room with right-sided weakness that has persisted for the past several hours. He also complains of severe central chest pain that is "ripping" in quality and radiates to his back. He has had hypertension for the past seven years and has not been taking any anti-hypertensive medication. He has been smoking one pack of cigarettes per day for the past 25 years. His father died of coronary artery disease at age 44 years. His temperature is 37.1°C (98.6°F), pulse is 78/min, blood pressure is 180/120 mm Hg in the right arm and 110/70 mm Hg in the left arm, and respirations are 16/min. He is diaphoretic and confuse. His neurological examination is significant for decreased power and tone in the right upper and right lower extremities. The rest of his physical examination is unremarkable ECG shows left axis-deviation and a chest x ray is normal. Based on these findings, what is the most likely diagnosis?

A 54-year-old man is brought to the ER three hours after the onset of severe, 10/10, tearing, substernal chest pain radiating to his back. He still complains of pain and dizziness at the time of arrival. Physical examination demonstrates a pale thin male who is anxious and diaphoretic. His blood pressure is 90/60 mmHg in the right arm and 70/40 mmHg in the left arm. There is an 18 mmHg difference in systolic blood pressure between inspiration and expiration. His jugular veins are distended while sitting. Bedside echocardiogram demonstrates a moderate amount of pericardial fluid. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

A 21-year-old woman presents to the ED complaining of lightheadedness. Her symptoms appeared 45 minutes ago. She has no other symptoms and is not on any medications. She has a medical history of mitral valve prolapse. Her HR is 170 beats per minute and BP is 105/55 mmHg. Physical examination is unremarkable. After administering the appropriate medication, her HR slows down and her symptoms resolve. You repeat a 12-lead ECG that shows a rate of 89 beats per minute with a regular rhythm. The PR interval measures 100 milliseconds and there is a slurred upstroke of the QRS complex. Based on this information, which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

A 76-year-old man was operated on for a strangulated inguinal hernia and had approximately 40 cm of small bowel resected. On the morning of his third post-operative day, he falls while getting out of bed. Immediately after the fall, he is responsive but his speech is slurred and he cannot explain what happened. His pulse is 122/min, blood pressure is 96/50 mmHg, and respirations are 23/min. Lungs are clear to auscultation and his heart has a regular rate and rhythm. His neck veins are distended. An ECG is remarkable for a new onset right bundle branch block (RBBB). Immediate resuscitation is started with wide open intravenous fluids, but he becomes unresponsive. Shortly thereafter, his pupils start to dilate and his heart rate drops to 45/min. He eventually dies despite resuscitative efforts. What is the most likely cause of his death?

A 53-year-old Caucasian female is admitted to the ER with hypotension. Her condition is considered very serious, and invasive hemodynamic monitoring is established. Blood pressure measured by intra- arterial method is 72/46 mmHg. Her heart rate is 120/min, regular. Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) estimated using Swan-Ganz catheter is 6 mmHg. Mixed venous oxygen concentration (MVo2) is 16 vol% (Normal = 15.5 vol%). Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's condition?

A 60-year-old female comes to your office for progressive exertional dyspnea and new-onset ankle swelling. She has been recently worked up for proteinuria and easy bruisability. Otherwise her past medical history is insignificant. She has a ten pack-year history of smoking and she drinks two to three glasses of wine every day. Her temperature is 37.1°C (98.8°F), blood pressure is 130/70 mmHg, pulse is 80/min and respirations are 14/min. There is mild jugular venous distention on physical examination. Chest auscultation shows scattered bibasilar crackles. Echocardiography reveals symmetrical thickening of the ventricular walls, normal ventricular dimensions and a slightly reduced systolic function. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

A 20-year-old white female presents with chest pain for the past few weeks. She describes the pain as sharp, located to the left of the sternum, and lasting 5-10 seconds at a time. There is no associated fever, cough, breathlessness, palpitations, or syncope. She does not smoke or drink alcohol. On cardiac examination, there is a short systolic murmur at the apex that disappears with squatting. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

A 42-year-old man presents to the emergency department complaining of two weeks of weakness, low-grade fevers, and exertional shortness of breath. He also notes fingertip pain and urine that has been dark and cloudy recently. On physical examination, several of his proximal inter phalangeal joints are swollen. Which of the following diagnoses is most consistent with his presentation?

A 37-year-old Cambodian woman presents to the emergency room with acute onset of left-sided weakness. She has been experiencing progressive exertional dyspnea, nocturnal cough and occasional hemoptysis over the past six months. She also describes frequent episodes of palpitations and irregular heartbeats. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

A 67-year-old man presents to the emergency department after losing consciousness while shovelling snow near his house. He reports having had a similar episode one month ago while carrying heavy bags from the grocery store. The patient has reduced his physical activity level over the last several months because of progressive exertional dyspnea and fatigue. His past medical history is significant for diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolemia. Metformin and simvastatin are his only medications. Which of the following physical examination findings is most likely in this patient?

A 17-year-old girl is brought to the ER 30 minutes after an episode where she lost consciousness. She is accompanied by her father who witnessed the event. He says that the patient recently broke up with her boyfriend and has been under a lot of stress. Her sleep has been poor. She has had three similar episodes over the last month. On exam, her heart rate is 90/min, respirations are 13/min, and blood pressure is 120/70 mmHg. She seems sleepy but can be aroused easily. She gives her correct name but is disoriented to time and place. Pupils are symmetric and reactive to light. Blood glucose level is 100 mg/dl. Which of the following findings would you most expect in this patient?

A 50-year-old construction worker continues to have elevated blood pressure of 160/95 mmHg even after a third agent is added to his antihypertensive regimen. Physical examination is normal, electrolytes are normal, and the patient is taking no over-the-counter medications. Which of the following is the best next step for this patient?

A 45-year-old mildly overweight male recovering from an anterior wall myocardial infarction develops sudden onset of left-sided chest pain. He appears agitated and restless. Two minutes later, he is unresponsive. His pulse is not palpable and ECG monitor shows sinus tachycardia at the rate of 130/min. He presented five days earlier with substernal chest pain and diaphoresis. He has had no dyspnea, extremity swelling or palpitations since admission. His past medical history is significant for diabetes mellitus type 2. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

A 34-year-old Caucasian woman presents to your office with dyspnea and severe chest pain after returning from a trip to Central Asia. The pain is localized on the left side and increases with inspiration. She also had one episode of hemoptysis. She does not smoke or consume alcohol. She is sexually active with one partner and uses oral contraceptives. Her father died of a myocardial infarction at 52 years of age. Her temperature is 36.7°C (98°F), pulse is 100/min, respirations are 28/min, and blood pressure is 110/66 mmHg. Which of the following most likely accounts for this patient's chest pain?

A 32-year-old man develops severe nausea and vomiting after returning from a party. He also complains of chest pain that is more intense than any pain he has previously experienced. His past medical history is significant for HIV infection, alcohol abuse, and alcoholic hepatitis. He admits to using cocaine regularly. His temperature is 37.8°C (100°F), pulse is 120/min, respirations are 24/min, and blood pressure is 100/60 mmHg. Examination reveals injected conjunctivae and bilateral dilated pupils. Chest X-ray demonstrates a widened mediastinum and left-sided pleural effusion. EKG is unremarkable. The pleural fluid is found to have an elevated amylase content. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis in this patient?

A 54-year-old overweight man wakes up in the middle of the night with substernal discomfort that he describes as a burning sensation. He also complains of left-sided neck pain and feels sweaty and short of breath. He has never had similar pain before. Prior to going to bed he had eaten a big meal. His past medical history is significant for diabetes and hypertension. Which of the following physical findings is most consistent with this patient's clinical presentation?

A 75-year-old patient presents to the ER after a syncopal episode. He is again alert and in retrospect describes occasional substernal chest pressure and shortness of breath on exertion. His blood pressure is 110/80 mmHg and lungs have a few bibasilar rales. Which auscultatory finding would best explain his findings?

You are helping with school sports physicals and see a 16-year-old boy who has had trouble keeping up with his peers. Which of the following auscultatory findings suggests a previously undiagnosed ventricular septal defect?

A 32-year-old woman is brought to the emergency department with excruciating chest and neck pain. She is 6'2" and has long extremities. Her hand joints show significant extensibility. Which of the following additional findings is also likely in this patient?

A 69-year-old male presents to the emergency department with severe pain in the back of his chest that began suddenly 6 hours ago, and 2 hours of difficulty walking due to leg weakness. He has never had such symptoms before. His past medical history is significant for hypertension, bleeding peptic ulcers, and deep vein thrombosis requiring inferior vena cava filter placement. He drinks 6-8 cans of beer each weekend and does not smoke cigarettes or use illicit drugs. Blood pressure taken from his right arm is 210/120 mmHg. His heart rate is 120/min and regular. Chest x-ray reveals a right-sided pleural effusion. EKG shows sinus tachycardia. What is the most likely diagnosis?

A 57-year-old male presents to the emergency department with recent-onset dyspnea and cough. He reports that his symptoms began earlier this morning while he was jogging, when he suddenly started feeling short of breath and very weak. In the emergency department, laboratory analysis reveals a markedly elevated serum b-type natriuretic peptide level. Which of the following clinical signs best correlates with this finding?

A 65-year-old male presents to your office with a six-month history of periodic substernal pain. The pain episodes are experienced during strong emotion, last for 10-15 minutes, and resolve spontaneously. He has a long history of hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type 2. His right foot was amputated two years ago due to diabetes-related complications. You suspect angina pectoris and decide to perform myocardial perfusion scanning. It reveals uniform distribution of isotope at rest, but inhomogenesity of the distribution after dipyridamole injection. You conclude that the patient has ischemic heart disease. Which of the following effects of dipyridamole helped you in making the diagnosis?

A 24-year-old military recruit is brought to the emergency room after suddenly collapsing while at training camp. Witnesses say he lost consciousness, and in the ER he appears confused. He had apparently been in his usual state of good health until this incident. His medical history includes allergic rhinitis for which he takes chlorpheniramine. On physical examination, his temperature is 4 1°C (106°F), blood pressure is 90/60 mmHg, respiratory rate is 22/min, and pulse is 130/min and regular. He appears restless. His pupils are 4mm in size, symmetric, and reactive to light. Lung exam reveals a few rales at both lung bases. His abdomen is soft, non-tender and bowel sounds are present. There is no neck stiffness. His skin is dry and hot. He has 2+ symmetric reflexes in the upper and lower extremities. Muscle tone and bulk are normal. Initial laboratory studies show: Hemoglobin 16.0 g/L, Platelets 120,000/mm3, Leukocyte count 18,500/mm3, Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) 40 mg/dL, Prothrombin time 17 sec, Partial thromboplastin time 40 sec. Which of the following is the most likely cause of his current condition?

A 33-year-old Russian male reports concern over recurrent episodes of a "pounding" and "racing" heart over the last several months. He says his symptoms are worst while lying supine and while lying on his left side. On physical examination, his blood pressure is 150/55 mmHg and heart rate is 73/min. Which of the following is most likely responsible for his symptoms?

A 40-year-old male presents to the Emergency Room with a two-month history of occasional severe headache and blurring of vision. His past medical history is significant for hypertension controlled with hydrochlorothiazide for two years. His family history is significant for hypertension and diabetes. He smokes two packs a day and occasionally consumes alcohol. His blood pressure is 200/140 mmHg and heart rate is 75/min. Which of the following is most consistent with a diagnosis of malignant hypertension in this patient?

A 64-year-old white female presents for evaluation of two weeks of decreased appetite and nausea. She also notes occasional palpitations, which have been especially prominent over the past two days. Her medical history is significant for an anterior wall myocardial infarction one year ago and secondary congestive heart failure with left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Her current medications include aspirin, digoxin, furosemide, enalapril and metoprolol. On physical examination, her blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg, pulse is 106/min and respirations are 15/min. The remainder of her exam is unremarkable. Chest x-ray shows an enlarged cardiac silhouette and normal lung fields. On laboratory testing, her digoxin level is twice the upper limit of normal. You order an EKG. Which of the following arrhythmias is most specific for digitalis toxicity?

A 45-year-old mildly overweight smoker presents with occasional episodes of nocturnal substernal chest pain that wakes her up from sleep. The episodes last 15-20 minutes and resolve spontaneously. She denies any illicit drug use. She leads a sedentary lifestyle but states that she can climb two flights of stairs without any discomfort. Her pulse is 78/min and regular, blood pressure is 130/70 mmHg and respirations are 13/min. Auscultation of her heart and lungs is unremarkable. Extended ambulatory ECG monitoring reveals transient ST segment elevations in leads V4-V6 during the pain attack. The pathophysiology of this patient's condition is most similar to that of which of the following?

A 65-year-old man comes to your office for a follow-up after his previous visits revealed inadequately controlled hypertension. He has no present complaints except difficulty walking uphill or climbing stairs, because of the pain in the right thigh, which makes him stop and rest. His past medical history includes stable angina, requiring coronary angioplasty and stenting 2 years ago; hypercholesterolemia; a 20-year history of hypertension; and a 10-year history of diabetes mellitus, type 2. His current medications are aspirin, metoprolol, hydrochlorothiazide, enalapril, amlodipine, pravastatin and glyburide. He smokes 1½packs of cigarettes per day and does not consume alcohol. His blood pressure is 160/100 mmHg in his right arm and 180/110 mmHg in his left arm. Which of the following findings will point to the potential cause of the resistant hypertension in this patient?

A 43-year-old man is hospitalized with chest pain, lightheadedness and nausea. He describes the pain as dull and non-radiating. He has never had chest pain before, but does report occasional episodes of dyspnea and coughing. His medical history is significant for eczema. He is not presently taking any medications. His family history is significant for prostate cancer in his father and rheumatoid arthritis in his mother. He does not smoke or consume alcohol. The patient is admitted to the hospital and is given aspirin, low-molecular weight heparin, metoprolol and captopril. On day 2 of his hospitalization he complains of shortness of breath. Physical examination reveals prolonged expirations and bilateral wheezes. There are no crackles. You estimate the jugular venous pressure to be 7 cm with the patient's head elevated at 45 degrees. Which of the following is most likely responsible for this patient's current respiratory symptoms?

A 32-year-old man presents to the emergency department with a three-day history of fever, cough and weakness. His blood pressure is 120/80mmHg and his heart rate is 110/min. Physical examination reveals multiple needle tracks on his arms. ECG shows sinus tachycardia but is otherwise normal. Chest X-ray shows scattered round lesions in the peripheral lung fields bilaterally. Urinalysis is positive for 2+ protein. Which of the following accompanying findings is most likely in this patient?

A 41-year-old intravenous drug abuser presents with shortness of breath and pleuritic chest pain. He is febrile with a temperature of 103.5°F. He has no skin lesions and funduscopic exam is negative. He has jugular venous distension that increases with compression of the liver. The liver is pulsatile. The jugular venous pulse shows a prominent v wave. The patient has splenomegaly. Heart auscultation reveals a holosystolic murmur heard best at the left lower sternal border. The murmur increases with inspiration (Müller maneuver). Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

A 22-year-old man presents to the ED with a history consistent with an acute MI. His ECG reveals ST elevations and his cardiac biomarkers are positive. He has been smoking half a pack of cigarettes per day for the last 3 months. He drinks alcohol when hanging out with his friends. His grandfather died of a heart attack at 80 years of age. The patient does not have hypertension or diabetes mellitus and takes no prescription medications. A recent cholesterol check revealed normal levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Which of the following is the most likely explanation for his presentation?

A 29-year-old woman presents to the emergency department with a 3-week history of being awakened by a dull, prolonged chest pain that occurs 3–4 times a week. She is a smoker but has never suffered a myocardial infarction (MI) or had chest pain before and has no family history of early MI. Results of a 12-lead ECG are normal. Her first set of cardiac enzyme measurements (creatine kinase, creatine kinase-MB fraction, troponin I) are negative. If coronary angiography were taken at the time of her chest pain, which of the following findings is most like?

A 42-year-old man presents to the emergency department with a complaint of increasing shortness of breath when walking to get his newspaper, difficulty breathing while lying fl at, and a 4.5-kg (10-lb) weight gain over the past month. He is afebrile, his pulse is 75/min, and his blood pressure is 98/50 mmHg. On examination he smells of alcohol and has 2+ pitting edema in the lower extremities and a third heart sound. X-ray of the chest reveals cardiomegaly. What additional findings must be present to confirm this man’s underlying diagnosis?

A 42-year-old man with known valvular heart disease develops a fever for 1 week. He appears unwell; findings include a pansystolic murmur at the apex that radiates to the axilla and a soft S1 sound. He has petechiae on his conjunctival sac, linear hemorrhages under a few fingernails, and painful, tender, and erythematous nodules on some of the distal fingertips. Which of the following is the most responsible mechanism for these physical findings?

A 67-year-old man presents with an anterior myocardial infarction (MI) and receives thrombolytic therapy. Three days later, he develops chest pain that is exacerbated by lying down, and his physical findings are normal except for a friction rub. His ECG shows evolving changes from the anterior infarction but new PR-segment depression and 1-mm ST-segment elevation in all the limb leads. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

A 77-year-old man, complaining of abdominal pain, anorexia, and nausea and vomiting over the past 24 hours, presents to the clinic with his son. The son reveals that his father has also complained of blurred vision. The patient’s vital signs are stable and his abdomen is soft, but he appears to be somewhat confused. He is currently taking metoprolol, digoxin, and hydrochlorothiazide for ischemic congestive heart failure. His son says that sometimes his father confuses his medications. The patient also has renal insufficiency with a baseline serum creatinine of 2.6 mg/dL. The ECG reveals a widened QRS complex and a new first-degree heart block. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient’s symptoms?

A 35-year-old woman presents to the clinic because of visual problems. She states that she has always had difficulty looking up, and over the past few years her overall vision has become blurry. Review of symptoms is notable for several recent episodes of “near fainting.” She takes no medication and has no other medical history, and has not seen a physician for 7 years. Because she was adopted as a child, she does not know her family history, but her son has required special tutoring at school. The patient also remarks that her son seems to have been dropping objects lately. Physical examination reveals bilateral ptosis. Her extraocular movements are intact and the pupils are equal, round, and reactive. Her corrected visual acuity is 20/100 in the right eye and 20/120 in the left eye. The view of the fundus is obscured. On ambulation she raises her knees and makes a slapping sound on the floor as she walks. ECG indicates heart block. What is the pathogenesis of this patient’s disorder?

A 37-year-old woman with sarcoidosis presents to her primary care physician complaining of progressive fatigue and shortness of breath over the past 3 months. She also reports that her socks and shoes do not fit the way they used to and that she fainted a few weeks ago for the first time in many years. She denies any recent illness and only takes medications to control her sarcoid. She states that she is more comfortable sitting than lying down. She has jugular venous distension, which increases with inspiration. Her blood pressure is 134/87 mmHg, respiratory rate is 17/min, pulse is 96/min, and temperature is 37.2°C (98.9°F). She also has decreased breath sounds bilaterally at the bases. ECG shows decreased QRS voltage. An echocardiogram shows a thick left ventricle. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

A 1-week-old infant presents to her general pediatrician’s office for a well-child visit. She was born at 37 weeks’ gestation without complications. Her temperature is 37.0°C (98.6°F), pulse is 130/min, blood pressure is 72/54 mmHg, and respiratory rate is 28/min. She is currently at the 50th percentile for weight and 75th percentile for height. She is acyanotic and has a wide, fixed split S2, with a 2/6 systolic ejection murmur at the left upper sternal border. The remainder of the examination is unremarkable. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

Which of the following patients has the lowest clinical probability for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE)?

A 72-year-old man presents with shortness of breath and increased home oxygen requirement. The patient has coronary artery disease, he has had two previous myocardial infarctions, and he has a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease requiring 2 L of continuous home oxygen. The patient has a 45-pack-year history of smoking. He is unable to walk more than a block and the swelling in his legs has worsened. The physician suggests measuring a brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level to distinguish a cardiac from a pulmonary cause of his symptoms. Which of the following statements regarding BNP is true?

A 77-year-old man with a history of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and a 90-pack-year smoking history presents to the emergency department with lethargy and abdominal pain. His temperature is 36.9°C (98.5°F), blood pressure is 82/54 mmHg, pulse is 125/min, and respiratory rate is 16/min. A pulsatile abdominal mass is palpable just superior to the umbilicus. There is diffuse abdominal tenderness, although rebound tenderness and guarding are absent. There is also slight skin discoloration noted in the left lower back. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

A 52-year-old African-American man with a history of smoking and asthma presents to the emergency department complaining of shortness of breath. He has alcohol on his breath and admits to drinking 3–4 beers each night plus an occasional “mixed drink.” He denies drug use and states that he has been feeling well until recently, when he began to sleep with more pillows and to become out of breath when walking. His blood pressure is 143/89 mmHg, respiratory rate is 21/min, pulse is 112/min, and he is afebrile. On physical examination he has a laterally displaced point of maximal impulse and an S3 gallop, as well as rales over his right lung base. X-ray of the chest shows cardiomegaly and a pleural effusion. Echocardiogram reveals an ejection fraction of 25%. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

A cardiologist is called to consult on the care of a 2-day-old girl delivered at 33 weeks’ gestation. The infant is lying supine in her isolette. She is acyanotic, but has a heart rate of 192/min and a respiratory rate of 60/min. She has a nonradiating continuous machinery murmur at the left upper sternal border that remains the same with compression of the ipsilateral, then contralateral jugular veins. S1 and S2 are normal. Her peripheral pulses are bounding. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

A 59-year-old man presents to his internist for a routine visit. He has no complaints, and review of symptoms is negative. His past medical history is significant for poorly controlled hypertension for 15 years due to noncompliance with antihypertensive medications. He takes hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg orally four times a day. His family history is significant for hypertension, heart failure, and stroke. He has a 30-pack-year smoking history and drinks two beers a day. On physical examination he is a mildly obese man in no acute distress. He has a normal jugular venous pressure. He has a prominent point of maximum impulse, regular rate and rhythm, normal S1, loud S2, and audible S4 with no murmurs. His lungs are clear to auscultation bilaterally, and he has no signs of edema. His abdominal and neurologic examinations are within normal limits. His temperature is 37.0°C (98.6°F), pulse is 81/min, respiratory rate is 12/min, blood pressure is 165/96 mmHg, and oxygen saturation is 100% on room air. His ECG shows normal sinus rhythm with large amplitude of the S wave in V1 and V2 and of the R wave in V5 and V6. Also present are diffuse ST segment/T wave changes, widened bifid P waves, and prolonged QRS waveforms. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

A 60-year-old woman is transferred to a physician from an outside hospital following a motor vehicle collision. Her medical history is notable for Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome. She is otherwise healthy. Which of the following triads is most likely to characterize her medical history prior to the collision?