USMLE® Step 2 CK · chapter CV

Cardiovascular / Cardiology: USMLE® Step 2 CK topics

33 topics. Each one opens a review page with its guideline basis and key clinical sections, then links the QuestionBank questions, ChartWalk flowchart, FlashCards and ImageBank plates that share its code.

1. ACS pharmacotherapy & secondary prevention

   CV-ACS-0226 questions · Review Book p. 173 · 2025 ACC/AHA/ACEP/NAEMSP/SCAI Acute Coronary Syndromes

2. Acute coronary syndromes — recognition & reperfusion

   CV-ACS-0166 questions · Review Book p. 171 · 2025 ACC/AHA/ACEP/NAEMSP/SCAI Acute Coronary Syndromes; 2026 Fifth Universal Definition of MI

3. Acute decompensated HF, HFpEF & cardiogenic shock

   CV-HF-0221 questions · Review Book p. 186 · 2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA Heart Failure

4. Aortic dissection & aortic aneurysm

   CV-AORTA-0184 questions · Review Book p. 211 · 2022 ACC/AHA Aortic Disease Guideline; 2019 USPSTF AAA Screening

5. Aortic stenosis & aortic regurgitation

   CV-VALV-0136 questions · Review Book p. 192 · 2020 ACC/AHA Valvular Heart Disease; 2025 ESC/EACTS Valvular Heart Disease (recommendations attributed separately)

6. Atrial fibrillation & flutter

   CV-ARR-0151 questions · Review Book p. 199 · 2023 ACC/AHA/ACCP/HRS Atrial Fibrillation

7. Bradyarrhythmias, AV block & pacing

   CV-ARR-039 questions · Review Book p. 203 · 2018 ACC/AHA/HRS Bradycardia and Cardiac Conduction Delay

8. Cardiac arrest, ACLS & post-arrest care

   CV-ARREST-0110 questions · Review Book p. 208 · 2025 AHA CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care

9. Cardiac tumors & carotid artery disease

   CV-MISC-01Questions linked · Review Book p. 230 · 2021 AHA/ASA Secondary Stroke Prevention; 2022 SVS Extracranial Cerebrovascular Disease

10. Cardiomyopathies & myocarditis

    CV-CM-0141 questions · Review Book p. 188 · 2024 AHA/ACC/AMSSM/HRS/PACES/SCMR Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy; 2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA Heart Failure Guideline

11. Cardiotoxic drugs & overdoses

    CV-TOX-0125 questions · Review Book p. 218 · 2025 AHA Special Circumstances of Resuscitation; DigiFab US PI2/2026; 2025/2023 Digoxin Toxicity Consensus; 2025 ACC/AHA ACS

12. Cardiovascular disease in pregnancy

    CV-PREG-012 questions · Review Book p. 223 · 2020 ACOG Gestational Hypertension and Preeclampsia Practice Bulletin (PB) 222; 2019 ACOG Pregnancy and Heart Disease (PB 212)

13. Congenital heart disease (pediatric & adult)

    CV-CONG-01111 questions · Review Book p. 220 · 2025 ACC/AHA/HRS/ISACHD/SCAI Adult Congenital Heart Disease

14. ECG interpretation — electrolytes & drug effects

    CV-ECG-0133 questions · Review Book p. 206 · 2025 AHA CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care; 2025 ERC Special Circumstances

15. Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction — chronic management

    CV-HF-0132 questions · Review Book p. 184 · 2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA HF therapy; 2026 Universal Definition / ESC HF nomenclature

16. Hypertension — diagnosis, targets & first-line therapy

    CV-HTN-0134 questions · Review Book p. 179 · 2025 AHA/ACC/AANP/AAPA/ABC/ACCP/ACPM/AGS/AMA/ASPC/NMA/PCNA/SGIM Hypertension

17. Hypertensive emergency & secondary hypertension

    CV-HTN-0218 questions · Review Book p. 182 · 2025 AHA/ACC/AANP/AAPA/ABC/ACCP/ACPM/AGS/AMA/ASPC/NMA/PCNA/SGIM Hypertension; 2026 AHA/ASA Acute Ischemic Stroke

18. Infective endocarditis & rheumatic fever

    CV-IE-0141 questions · Review Book p. 197 · 2026 AHA Infective Endocarditis Diagnosis and Management; 2023 Duke-ISCVID criteria; 2015 Revised Jones Criteria

19. Lipids & ASCVD risk reduction

    CV-PREV-0128 questions · Review Book p. 178 · 2026 ACC/AHA/AACVPR/ABC/ACPM/ADA/AGS/APhA/ASPC/NLA/PCNA Dyslipidemia; 2022 ACC Expert Consensus Decision Pathway nonstatin therapies

20. Mitral & right-sided valve disease

    CV-VALV-0231 questions · Review Book p. 194 · 2020 ACC/AHA Valvular Heart Disease; 2025 ESC/EACTS Valvular Heart Disease (population/source-specific recommendations)

21. Murmurs, maneuvers & valve-management principles

    CV-VALV-0326 questions · Review Book p. 195 · 2020 ACC/AHA Valvular Heart Disease; 2025 ESC/EACTS Valvular Heart Disease; 2024 AHA/ACC Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy; 2026 AHA IE key points

22. Pediatric acquired heart disease — Kawasaki disease, myocarditis & syncope

    CV-PEDS-017 questions · Review Book p. 222 · 2017 AHA Kawasaki Disease; 2024 AHA update

23. Pericardial disease — pericarditis, effusion, tamponade, constriction

    CV-PERI-0152 questions · Review Book p. 190 · 2025 ESC Myocarditis and Pericarditis

24. Perioperative cardiac risk & cardiac surgery essentials

    CV-PERIOP-012 questions · Review Book p. 225 · 2024 AHA/ACC multisociety Perioperative CV Management; reaffirmed unchanged September 2026

25. Peripheral arterial disease & acute limb ischemia

    CV-PAD-0132 questions · Review Book p. 213 · 2024 ACC/AHA/AACVPR/APMA/ABC/SCAI/SVM/SVN/SVS/SIR/VESS Lower Extremity PAD

26. Post-MI mechanical & electrical complications

    CV-ACS-0316 questions · Review Book p. 174 · 2025 ACC/AHA/ACEP/NAEMSP/SCAI Acute Coronary Syndromes; 2021 AHA Mechanical Complications of Acute MI

27. Pulmonary hypertension & cor pulmonale

    CV-PH-0115 questions · Review Book p. 226 · 2022 ESC/ERS Pulmonary Hypertension

28. Shock — hemodynamic profiles & vasoactive drugs

    CV-SHOCK-0112 questions · Review Book p. 228 · 2026 Surviving Sepsis Campaign

29. Stable angina, CAD evaluation & stress testing

    CV-CAD-0115 questions · Review Book p. 176 · 2021 AHA/ACC/ASE/CHEST/SAEM/SCCT/SCMR Chest Pain; 2024 AHA/ACC/ACS/ASNC/HRS/SCA/SCCT/SCMR/SVM Perioperative CV Management

30. Supraventricular tachycardias & pre-excitation

    CV-ARR-0221 questions · Review Book p. 201 · 2015 ACC/AHA/HRS Supraventricular Tachycardia

31. Syncope & orthostatic hypotension

    CV-SYNC-011 questions · Review Book p. 210 · 2017 ACC/AHA/HRS Evaluation and Management of Syncope

32. Venous thromboembolism — diagnosis, anticoagulation & complications

    CV-VTE-0153 questions · Review Book p. 215 · 2021 CHEST Antithrombotic Therapy for VTE; 2020 ACC Expert Consensus Decision Pathway Bleeding on Oral Anticoagulants

33. Ventricular arrhythmias, channelopathies & sudden cardiac death

    CV-ARR-0449 questions · Review Book p. 204 · 2017 AHA/ACC/HRS Ventricular Arrhythmias and Prevention of sudden cardiac death (SCD); 2022 ESC Ventricular Arrhythmias/SCD

Written and clinically reviewed by TheCodexes.com (editorial policy). Guideline citations are the primary sources each topic follows.