Iraqi Board Cardiology study plan

Map the coronary anatomy and the territory supplied by each major vessel, then state which ECG leads and echocardiographic walls correspond to each territory from memory

Distinguish STEMI, NSTEMI and unstable angina by definition, biomarker kinetics and ECG criteria, and write the immediate management sequence for each

Interpret 20 twelve-lead ECGs showing acute ischaemia, localise the culprit artery in each, and record the reasoning in one line per tracing

List the absolute and relative contraindications, door-to-balloon targets and fibrinolytic eligibility windows for reperfusion therapy

Compare invasive coronary angiography, CT coronary angiography, stress echocardiography, myocardial perfusion imaging and stress MRI by indication, sensitivity, radiation and contraindication

Apply risk scores (GRACE, TIMI, HEART) to written vignettes and justify admission versus discharge decisions

Explain the pharmacology, monitoring and reversal of antiplatelet and anticoagulant agents used in acute coronary syndromes

Recognise mechanical complications of myocardial infarction on echocardiography descriptions and state the surgical urgency of each

Classify heart failure by ejection fraction, and outline guideline-directed medical therapy initiation and titration for each category with the trial evidence behind each drug class

Differentiate the cardiomyopathies (dilated, hypertrophic, restrictive, arrhythmogenic, infiltrative) by echocardiographic and clinical features and state the genetic and family-screening implications

Identify rhythm strips of atrial fibrillation, flutter, supraventricular tachycardia, ventricular tachycardia and heart block, and state the acute management of each

Describe device indications for implantable cardioverter-defibrillator and cardiac resynchronisation therapy using ejection fraction, NYHA class and QRS criteria

Summarise the mechanisms and ECG patterns of the inherited channelopathies (long QT, Brugada, Wolff-Parkinson-White)

Explain excitation-contraction coupling, the cardiac action potential phases and the ionic currents targeted by each major antiarrhythmic class

Derive the auscultatory findings of each valve lesion from pressure and flow physiology rather than memorising them

Perform and document a structured cardiovascular examination sequence including manoeuvres that alter murmurs, and justify each manoeuvre physiologically

Interpret arterial blood gas, electrolyte and cardiac biomarker panels in cardiovascular vignettes and link abnormalities to mechanism

Describe the embryological derivation of the great vessels, septa and ductus arteriosus and connect each to a named congenital defect

Grade aortic and mitral stenosis and regurgitation by echocardiographic parameters and state the surgical or percutaneous indication thresholds for each

Outline the choice between mechanical and bioprosthetic valves by age, anticoagulation need and pregnancy considerations, and the monitoring required after each

Explain the pathophysiology, timing and management of prosthetic valve thrombosis and endocarditis

Classify congenital heart lesions by shunt direction and pulmonary vascular resistance, and predict the consequences of unrepaired defects in adulthood

Describe the pregnancy, contraception and exercise counselling required for the common adult congenital lesions

Apply current blood pressure thresholds and confirm the diagnosis of hypertension using office, ambulatory and home measurement, including white-coat and masked patterns

Select and titrate antihypertensive agents by comorbidity and explain the mechanism of each first-line class

Interpret a full lipid panel, apply risk stratification, and justify statin intensity, ezetimibe and PCSK9 inhibitor use by absolute risk

Differentiate the pericardial syndromes (acute pericarditis, effusion, tamponade, constrictive pericarditis) by clinical and echocardiographic findings and state the treatment for each

Classify pulmonary hypertension by group, outline the diagnostic algorithm, and describe the mechanism of each pulmonary vasodilator class

State the indication, contraindication, complication and expected outcome for percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary artery bypass grafting, transcatheter aortic valve implantation and surgical aortic valve replacement

Explain the role of the heart team in complex revascularisation and valvular decisions and the factors that shift the recommendation

Sequence the management of cardiogenic shock, cardiac arrest, acute pulmonary oedema and hypertensive emergency, including vasopressor and mechanical circulatory support selection

Apply the ethical and safety principles of informed consent, capacity assessment, do-not-resuscitate decisions and disclosure of complications in cardiac care

Identify system-based error sources in the cardiac catheterisation laboratory and the safety checks that mitigate them

Sit two full-length timed mock examinations under exam conditions and record the score per domain

Review every incorrect answer, classify the error as knowledge gap, misread question or faulty reasoning, and write a corrective note for each

Revisit the three weakest domains and rewrite the relevant personal summary sheet from memory without reference

Recite the key numerical thresholds (ejection fraction cut-offs, valve areas, blood pressure targets, anticoagulation scores, reperfusion times) in a single timed self-test