General Medicine

20 learning units • 100 chapter sections • 200 explained questions. Assess the patient, choose investigations and build a monitored management plan across adult medical specialties.

Original RAHBAR study material for the Year 4 learning pathway. Clinical cases support supervised undergraduate learning. Treatment choices, doses and procedures must follow current local protocols and the responsible clinical team. References & further reading ↓

MODULE 04 / 20

Arrhythmias, Palpitations & Syncope

Identify unstable rhythms and distinguish transient loss of consciousness from seizure and other mimics.

Choose an answer and check it immediately. Change your choice to try again. This is a self-study exercise; results are not saved.

Question 01. What determines the immediate priority in a tachyarrhythmia? A. Haemodynamic stabilityB. The patient's preference for a monitor colourC. Whether symptoms started on a weekdayD. The length of the ECG paper

Question 02. Which pulse pattern suggests atrial fibrillation? A. Completely regular at all timesB. Alternating strong and weak with fixed timing onlyC. Irregularly irregularD. Slow with no variation by definition

Question 03. What should guide stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation? A. Palpitation severity aloneB. Thromboembolic risk and individual bleeding considerationsC. Whether the patient notices every episodeD. A normal chest radiograph alone

Question 04. Which syncope feature is a cardiac red flag? A. Collapse during exertionB. Brief light-headedness after prolonged standing with typical prodromeC. A clear vasovagal trigger without other risksD. Rapid recovery after an uncomplicated blood draw

Question 05. How should uncertain broad-complex tachycardia in an adult with structural heart disease be approached? A. As anxiety without an ECGB. As benign sinus tachycardia automaticallyC. With any available rate-control drugD. As potentially ventricular with urgent expert input

Question 06. What is a useful next test for intermittent unexplained palpitations? A. Routine barium swallow in every caseB. Skin-prick testing aloneC. Ambulatory rhythm monitoring matched to symptom frequencyD. Repeating only cholesterol daily

Question 07. Why assess episode duration before elective cardioversion for AF? A. It measures ejection fraction directlyB. It excludes all bleeding riskC. It affects thrombus-risk management and planningD. It determines thyroid status

Question 08. Which reversible factor can prolong QT and promote arrhythmia? A. Correctly fitted footwearB. Electrolyte disturbance or certain medicinesC. Normal visual acuityD. A remote healed sprain

Question 09. What distinguishes typical syncope from prolonged encephalopathy? A. Persistent coma for days by definitionB. Progressive confusion without loss of consciousnessC. Brief loss of consciousness with spontaneous recoveryD. Fever alone

Question 10. What should follow an unexplained collapse when discharge is appropriate? A. A guarantee that recurrence is impossibleB. No review because the patient woke upC. Permanent treatment without a working diagnosisD. Explicit follow-up and safety advice

0 / 10 answeredReady for assessment →

References & Further Reading

Read the relevant guideline sections alongside these original clinical teaching cases. Local pathways, available services and individual patient factors determine care.

Reference review: 27 September 2026. Consult current local protocols for prescribing, procedures and escalation.