CCI - Cardiovascular Credentialing International Valvular Pathology Assessment Questions and Answers

Question 1

A patient undergoes an echocardiogram for evaluation of a heart murmur.
The results show a peak aortic valve velocity of 4.5 m/s, a mean pressure gradient of 50 mmHg, and a calculated aortic valve area of 0.9 cm².
According to current guidelines, how would this aortic stenosis be classified?

Accepted Answer

Severe

Answer

Mild

Answer

Moderate

Answer

Critical

Question 2

When assessing a patient for mitral valve prolapse (MVP) using 2D echocardiography, which view is considered essential for minimizing false positives and confirming the diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

Parasternal long-axis

Answer

Apical four-chamber

Answer

Subcostal

Answer

Parasternal short-axis

Question 3

A 68-year-old male with a history of rheumatic heart disease presents with dyspnea on exertion. Echocardiography reveals severe tricuspid regurgitation. Which of the following quantitative parameters, derived from the PISA method, is most indicative of severe TR?

Accepted Answer

Effective Regurgitant Orifice Area (EROA) of 0.45 cm²

Answer

Vena Contracta width of 4 mm

Answer

Jet area of 8 cm²

Answer

Peak E-wave velocity of 0.8 m/s

Question 4

In the evaluation of a bioprosthetic aortic valve, which of the following Doppler findings is most suggestive of significant prosthetic valve stenosis?

Accepted Answer

Acceleration time (AT) > 100 ms

Answer

Peak velocity of 2.5 m/s

Answer

Triangular, early-peaking CW Doppler profile

Answer

Doppler Velocity Index (DVI) of 0.5

Question 5

A patient is found to have significant pulmonic regurgitation (PR) on a routine echocardiogram. Which of the following is an established echocardiographic criterion for classifying the PR as severe?

Accepted Answer

Diastolic flow reversal in the branch pulmonary arteries

Answer

A brief, early diastolic color Doppler jet

Answer

Pressure half-time (PHT) of 250 ms

Answer

Regurgitant jet width <50% of the RVOT diameter

Question 6

During the assessment of a mechanical mitral prosthesis, an increased mean gradient is noted. Which of the following parameters would be most useful to differentiate true stenosis from a high-flow state?

Accepted Answer

Doppler Velocity Index (DVI)

Answer

Pressure Half-Time (PHT)

Answer

Left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) diameter

Answer

Peak E-wave velocity

A patient undergoes an echocardiogram for evaluation of a heart murmur.The results show a peak aortic valve velocity of 4.5 m/s, a mean pressure gradient of 50 mmHg, and a calculated aortic valve area of 0.9 cm².According to current guidelines, how would this aortic stenosis be classified?

A patient undergoes an echocardiogram for evaluation of a heart murmur.
The results show a peak aortic valve velocity of 4.5 m/s, a mean pressure gradient of 50 mmHg, and a calculated aortic valve area of 0.9 cm².
According to current guidelines, how would this aortic stenosis be classified?