American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Study for the ABIM Certification Exam. Use flashcards and multiple choice questions, with hints and explanations for each. Get ready to succeed!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.


What is the required systolic blood pressure threshold for patients with intracranial hemorrhage before treatment?

  1. 160 mm Hg

  2. 180 mm Hg

  3. 200 mm Hg

  4. 140 mm Hg

The correct answer is: 180 mm Hg

In the context of managing patients with intracranial hemorrhage, maintaining an appropriate systolic blood pressure is crucial to optimize outcomes and prevent further complications. The threshold of 180 mm Hg is significant as it is generally accepted in clinical practice. Keeping the systolic blood pressure below this level is essential to reduce the risk of rebleeding and to manage the pressure within the cranial cavity effectively. Research suggests that elevated blood pressure during acute intracranial hemorrhage can exacerbate the situation by increasing the risk of hematoma expansion. The 180 mm Hg threshold serves as a target to minimize these risks and to help stabilize the patient while further interventions or treatments are being considered. Therefore, adhering to this guideline is aligned with current standards of care in neurocritical management of patients experiencing intracranial hemorrhage.