ABIM Interventional Cardiology study guide
ABIM Interventional Cardiology · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
Interventional Cardiology is an ABIM subspecialty certification for cardiologists who have completed accredited interventional training and want formal recognition of their ability to perform and interpret percutaneous coronary and structural procedures. It signals to hospitals, credentialing committees, and patients that the physician has met a national standard beyond general cardiology. The ABIM Interventional Cardiology study guide has 8 sections and about 1,983 words.
01Coronary Artery Disease and Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Know the PCI decision framework: indication (stable angina vs. ACS), lesion complexity (ACC/AHA type A–C), and completeness of revascularization.
289 words, about 1 min02Acute Coronary Syndromes and Myocardial Infarction
Differentiate STEMI, NSTEMI, and unstable angina by ECG and troponin. Know reperfusion strategy: primary PCI within 120 minutes of first medical contact for STEMI; fibrinolysis only if PCI is unavailable within 120 minutes and symptom onset <12 h, followed by transfer for angiography.
286 words, about 1 min03Valvular Heart Disease and Structural Heart Intervention
Understand indications for TAVR vs. SAVR by surgical risk (STS score), anatomy (bicuspid, annulus size), and age.
260 words, about 1 min04Peripheral Arterial and Venous Disease and Intervention
Know the ankle-brachial index (ABI) for PAD diagnosis (<0.90 abnormal; 1.3 suggests non-compressible vessels). Understand Rutherford vs.
225 words, about 1 min05Hemodynamics, Invasive Assessment, and Vascular Access
Master pressure tracings: aortic, LV, and simultaneous LV-aortic for aortic stenosis (peak-to-peak gradient, valve area by Gorlin). Know cardiac output measurement (Fick, thermodilution), shunt detection (step-up in oximetry), and pulmonary hypertension classification.
244 words, about 1 min06Interventional Pharmacology and Antithrombotic Therapy
Know antiplatelet pharmacology: aspirin (irreversible COX-1), P2Y12 inhibitors (clopidogrel prodrug with CYP2C19 variability; ticagrelor reversible; prasugrel irreversible), and GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors (abciximab, eptifibatide, tirofiban). Understand anticoagulants used in the cath lab: unfractionated heparin (monitor ACT), enoxaparin, bivalirudin (direct thrombin inhibitor, less bleeding, used in HIT), and fondaparinux.
227 words, about 1 min07Procedural Complications, Safety, and Radiation Management
Know access-site complications: hematoma, pseudoaneurysm, arteriovenous fistula, retroperitoneal hemorrhage, and radial artery occlusion. Understand contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) prevention: hydration, minimize contrast volume, avoid nephrotoxins.
219 words, about 1 min08Imaging and Physiologic Lesion Assessment
Know IVUS and OCT: IVUS for vessel sizing, plaque burden, and left main assessment; OCT for high-resolution surface detail, stent strut coverage, and thrombus characterization. Understand physiology: FFR (hyperemic, ≤0.80), iFR (resting, ≤0.89), and their limitations (microvascular disease, serial lesions).
233 words, about 1 min