Valvular Pathology Assessment Flashcards
7 cards from real CCI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Valvular Pathology Assessment flashcards as text
Which Doppler finding is most characteristic of severe mitral stenosis?
Answer: Pressure half-time >220 ms
A pressure half-time greater than 220 ms corresponds to a mitral valve area of approximately 1.0 cm² or less, indicating severe mitral stenosis.
In a patient with aortic regurgitation, which echocardiographic measurement is most predictive of the need for surgical intervention?
Answer: Left ventricular end-systolic diameter >50 mm
An LV end-systolic diameter greater than 50 mm (or indexed >25 mm/m²) is a Class I indication for surgery in asymptomatic severe aortic regurgitation per ACC/AHA guidelines.
The continuity equation is used primarily to calculate which valve area?
Answer: Aortic valve area
The continuity equation (AVA = LVOT area × LVOT VTI / AV VTI) is the standard method for calculating aortic valve area by echocardiography.
Which condition is most commonly associated with rheumatic mitral stenosis?
Answer: Commissural fusion with leaflet thickening
Rheumatic disease causes commissural fusion, leaflet thickening, and subvalvular disease, producing the classic 'hockey stick' anterior leaflet deformity.
A patient has a peak aortic valve gradient of 52 mmHg with an AVA of 0.9 cm² but an LVEF of 30%. How should this be classified?
Answer: Low-flow, low-gradient severe AS
Reduced stroke volume from low EF produces low gradients despite true severe stenosis, classifying this as low-flow, low-gradient severe AS requiring dobutamine stress echo for confirmation.
Which finding on color Doppler distinguishes functional from organic mitral regurgitation?
Answer: Central jet in functional vs. eccentric jet in organic
Functional MR produces a central regurgitant jet due to symmetric leaflet tethering, while organic MR from leaflet prolapse typically produces an eccentric jet directed away from the prolapsing leaflet.
In tricuspid regurgitation severity assessment, a vena contracta width of >7 mm indicates:
Answer: Severe tricuspid regurgitation
A vena contracta width greater than 7 mm is a specific marker of severe tricuspid regurgitation by ASE 2017 guideline criteria.