ARDMS ECHO Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield ARDMS ECHO facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What is the normal range for left atrial volume index (LAVI)? → <34 mL/m²
2. What is an essential consideration when performing an echocardiogram on a patient with known pacemaker or defibrillator leads? → Minimizing the use of high-intensity ultrasound settings
3. What is the normal IVC diameter in a patient with normal right atrial pressure? → 50% collapse
4. What does severe aortic stenosis with low gradient and reduced EF (low-flow, low-gradient AS) require for diagnosis? → Dobutamine stress echocardiography to confirm true severe AS
5. What is the normal range for left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) by echocardiography? → 55–70%
6. In an echo report describing valvular disease, 'effective regurgitant orifice area (EROA) ≥0.40 cm²' for mitral regurgitation indicates: → Severe MR
7. What does a restrictive filling pattern on mitral inflow Doppler indicate? → Grade III or IV diastolic dysfunction
8. What approximate percentage of pericardial effusions in developed countries are classified as idiopathic (presumed viral) in etiology? → 50–60%
9. Which Doppler parameter is used in the PISA method to calculate regurgitant flow rate? → 2π r² × aliasing velocity
10. In a patient with prosthetic aortic valve dysfunction, which Doppler finding suggests significant prosthetic obstruction? → DVI (dimensionless velocity index) < 0.25
11. Tissue Doppler e' velocity at the septal annulus is normally: → >8 cm/s
12. The fractional shortening (FS) of the left ventricle is calculated as: → (LVEDD − LVESD) / LVEDD × 100%
13. What is the first step a sonographer should take when preparing a patient for an echocardiogram? → Explain the procedure to the patient and obtain consent
14. In a patient with pulmonary stenosis, the Doppler jet is best recorded from which window? → Parasternal short axis at the level of the great vessels
15. Which echocardiographic finding best distinguishes severe from moderate aortic regurgitation? → Vena contracta width ≥ 0.6 cm
16. What is speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) used to measure? → Myocardial strain and strain rate to detect subclinical dysfunction
17. Which echocardiographic contrast agent is used to improve endocardial border delineation during stress echocardiography? → Perflutren lipid microspheres (e.g., Definity or Optison)
18. What effect does increasing the angle of insonation (θ) beyond 20° have on Doppler velocity measurements? → Underestimates true velocity
19. Which echocardiographic feature is used to differentiate hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) from athlete's heart? → LV wall thickness > 15 mm, abnormal diastolic function, and small LV cavity in HCM
20. Which of the following is a potential consequence of inadequate lateral resolution in echocardiography? → Inability to distinguish two structures side-by-side at the same depth
21. What is the target heart rate during exercise stress echocardiography for adequate diagnostic yield? → At least 85% of maximum predicted heart rate (220 − age)
22. In cardiac tamponade, what degree of respiratory variation in mitral inflow peak E-wave velocity is considered hemodynamically significant? → > 25% decrease with inspiration
23. Which hemodynamic parameter is estimated from the diastolic deceleration time of the pulmonary regurgitation jet? → Pulmonary artery diastolic pressure
24. Which formula estimates right atrial pressure to calculate pulmonary artery systolic pressure from TR jet velocity? → PASP = 4V² + RAP
25. Which color flow Doppler finding is characteristic of mitral regurgitation? → Systolic mosaic jet from LV into LA
26. In stress echocardiography for valvular assessment, what finding during exercise indicates hemodynamically significant mitral stenosis? → Mean mitral gradient > 15 mmHg or PASP > 60 mmHg with exercise
27. Which tissue Doppler finding supports constrictive pericarditis over restrictive cardiomyopathy? → Normal or elevated medial e' with elevated E/e' ratio (annulus paradoxus)
28. In 3D echocardiography, what is the primary advantage over 2D methods for measuring LV volumes? → Avoids geometric assumptions and foreshortening, improving accuracy
29. Which hepatic vein Doppler pattern indicates severe tricuspid regurgitation? → Systolic flow reversal in hepatic veins
30. In Eisenmenger syndrome, the shunt direction in an ASD or VSD reverses because: → Pulmonary hypertension raises RV pressure to exceed LV pressure, reversing the gradient