ABIM Interventional Cardiology study plan
ABIM Interventional Cardiology · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Coronary Artery Disease and Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Map the CAD/PCI domain into a written outline covering lesion assessment, stent selection, and post-PCI pharmacotherapy
Derive the indications and contraindications for PCI in stable CAD from primary guideline documents you read yourself
Build a one-page decision aid comparing DES platforms and restenosis management options
Solve 25 CAD/PCI practice questions and log every missed concept with a corrective note
Your checkpoint
A 2-page CAD/PCI summary sheet plus a 25-item error log with written corrections
Coronary Artery Disease and Percutaneous Coronary Intervention & Acute Coronary Syndromes and Myocardial Infarction
Explain the pathophysiology and reperfusion strategy differences between STEMI and NSTEMI in a written comparison
Reconstruct the timing targets and door-to-balloon workflow for primary PCI from memory, then verify against a guideline
Practice interpreting 10 ECGs or angiographic vignettes describing culprit-lesion identification
Tabulate antithrombotic regimens used during and after ACS-PCI, noting bleeding-risk tradeoffs
Your checkpoint
A STEMI/NSTEMI comparison table and a 10-vignette self-quiz with answers and rationales you write yourself
Acute Coronary Syndromes and Myocardial Infarction & Interventional Pharmacology and Antithrombotic Therapy
Summarize the mechanisms, dosing, and reversal strategies for heparin, bivalirudin, GPIs, and P2Y12 inhibitors
Compare DAPT duration and de-escalation strategies across stable CAD, ACS, and high-bleeding-risk patients
Work through 20 pharmacology and antithrombotic questions and categorize errors by drug class
Draft a one-page anticoagulation-in-the-cath-lab quick reference
Your checkpoint
A drug-class reference card for interventional pharmacology plus a categorized 20-item error log
Valvular Heart Disease and Structural Heart Intervention
Outline the indications, workup, and complications of TAVR versus surgical aortic valve replacement
Describe the step-by-step technique and imaging requirements for mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair
List the criteria for closure of ASD, PFO, and paravalvular leak and the devices used
Complete 20 structural heart questions and write rationales for each incorrect option
Your checkpoint
A structural heart procedure comparison matrix covering TAVR, TEER, and closure devices
Peripheral Arterial and Venous Disease and Intervention & Hemodynamics, Invasive Assessment, and Vascular Access
Differentiate indications for endovascular versus surgical revascularization in PAD and CLI
Diagram the femoral, radial, and alternative access routes with their anatomic landmarks and pitfalls
Practice interpreting pressure-wire and hemodynamic tracings, including FFR, iFR, and shunt calculations
Review venous disease interventions and the role of IVC filters
Your checkpoint
An access-site and hemodynamic interpretation cheat sheet with 5 worked tracing examples
Imaging and Physiologic Lesion Assessment & Hemodynamics, Invasive Assessment, and Vascular Access
Compare IVUS, OCT, and FFR/iFR for lesion assessment, including when each changes management
Interpret 10 intravascular imaging or physiologic vignettes and justify the chosen modality
Explain how to integrate physiologic assessment into complex PCI planning
Solve 20 imaging and physiology questions and log error patterns
Your checkpoint
A modality-selection decision tree plus a 10-vignette interpretation log
Procedural Complications, Safety, and Radiation Management
Catalog the recognition and management of major procedural complications, including perforation, no-reflow, and access-site bleeding
Summarize radiation safety principles, dose monitoring, and protective equipment use
Outline contrast-induced nephropathy prevention and patient selection strategies
Complete 20 complication and safety questions with written management algorithms
Your checkpoint
A complication-recognition and management algorithm sheet plus a radiation safety checklist
Coronary Artery Disease and Percutaneous Coronary Intervention & Acute Coronary Syndromes and Myocardial Infarction & Valvular Heart Disease and Structural Heart Intervention & Peripheral Arterial and Venous Disease and Intervention & Hemodynamics, Invasive Assessment, and Vascular Access & Interventional Pharmacology and Antithrombotic Therapy & Procedural Complications, Safety, and Radiation Management & Imaging and Physiologic Lesion Assessment
Complete a 100-question mixed mock exam under timed conditions
Review every missed item and map each error back to its domain and prior week's notes
Revisit and update weak-area summaries from weeks 1-7
Write a final one-page high-yield recall sheet for each domain
Your checkpoint
A timed mock-exam score report with a domain-level error analysis and 8 final recall sheets
Milestones
Week 2: Score at least 70% on a self-written 25-question CAD/ACS quiz and demonstrate a complete STEMI workflow from memory
Week 4: Explain TAVR, TEER, and closure device indications and complications aloud without notes, and score at least 70% on structural heart practice questions
Week 6: Correctly select and justify imaging or physiologic modality for at least 8 of 10 complex lesion vignettes
Week 8: Achieve at least 75% on the 100-question mixed mock exam with no single domain below 65%