What Does Shortness of Breath and Edema Indicate in This Patient?

Welcome to the next episode of The Reveal where we take you inside the mind of a test-taker to deconstruct and connect the dots of a board-style question so you can become a better student, transform how you learn, and excel not only on high-stakes exams, but also in your general medical knowledge. Let’s get started.

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A 41-year-old man with a long history of alcohol abuse presents to the ED with several weeks of worsening shortness of breath and lower extremity edema. An echocardiogram shows biventricular chamber enlargement, increased systolic and diastolic volumes, and an ejection fraction of 35 percent. What is the most likely diagnosis?

A) Dilated cardiomyopathy

B) Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

C) Pericardial effusion

D) Pulmonary embolism

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