ARDMS AE-Adult-Echocardiography - AE Adult Echocardiography Examination

The mid to distal interventricular septum is supplied predominantly by the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. Post-stress echocardiography showing akinesis or hypokinesis of these segments is highly suggestive of ischemia or infarction in the LAD territory.

The posterior descending artery supplies the inferior wall, the obtuse marginal supplies lateral walls, and the left circumflex supplies lateral and posterior walls.

This coronary artery segmental relationship is a cornerstone of ischemic heart disease evaluation by stress echocardiography and is well documented in ASE guidelines and clinical echocardiography literature【16:Textbook of Clinical Echocardiography, 6e†p.380-385】【12:ASE Stress Echocardiography Guidelines†p.300-310】.

The proximal isovelocity surface area (PISA) method estimates the effective regurgitant orifice area (EROA) in mitral regurgitation by measuring the radius of the hemispheric flow convergence region (aliasing radius) and incorporating the aliasing velocity and the peak velocity of the MR jet.

The equation for EROA is:

EROA = (2π × r² × Va) / Vmax

Where:

r = radius of the PISA hemisphere (aliasing radius)

Va = aliasing velocity (the velocity at which color aliasing occurs)

Vmax = peak MR velocity obtained by continuous wave Doppler

This calculation does not involve the mitral annular diameter, time velocity integral of mitral annulus, or left ventricular outflow tract diameter.

Thus, the third necessary parameter after aliasing radius and velocity is the maximum MR velocity measured by continuous wave Doppler, which allows determination of flow rate through the regurgitant orifice.

This formula and its clinical application are well established in adult echocardiography literature and ASE valvular regurgitation guidelines【12:ASE Valvular Regurgitation Guidelines†p.210-220】【16:Textbook of Clinical Echocardiography, 6e†Chapter on Mitral Regurgitation Assessment】.

Cardiac contusion is a myocardial injury resulting from blunt chest trauma, typically affecting the right ventricle more commonly than the left ventricle because of its anterior location and proximity to the chest wall. The injury can range from mild bruising to severe myocardial damage and dysfunction.

It does not result from myocardial infarction (which is ischemic injury), nor does it cause hypertrophy or hypercontractility. Instead, it may cause wall motion abnormalities, arrhythmias, or even rupture.

These features are detailed in echocardiography and trauma cardiology literature, including the "Textbook of Clinical Echocardiography" and clinical guidelines on blunt cardiac injury【16:Textbook of Clinical Echocardiography, 6e†p.600-605】【12:ASE Trauma Cardiology Guidelines†p.500-505】.

Severe mitral regurgitation (MR) is typically characterized by significant left atrial dilation due to volume overload, and systolic flow reversal in the pulmonary veins caused by retrograde flow from the left ventricle into the left atrium during systole.

An eccentric mitral regurgitant jet is common in severe MR, often due to leaflet prolapse or flail, resulting in directed jets that hug the atrial wall.

Mitral regurgitant jet velocity, however, is usually significantly higher in severe MR due to the high pressure gradient between the left ventricle and left atrium during systole. A jet velocity less than 0.5 cm/sec is extremely low and inconsistent with severe MR. Typically, MR jet velocities are in the range of several meters per second.

Thus, a mitral regurgitant jet velocity less than 0.5 cm/sec is NOT associated with severe MR.

This is detailed in echocardiography literature discussing MR quantification and Doppler findings, emphasizing high-velocity regurgitant jets in severe MR and hemodynamic consequences seen on pulmonary vein flow and LA size .

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

The Doppler waveform shows a typical left ventricular outflow tract or aortic valve velocity pattern. The arrow points to the steep rise and peak velocity of the jet, which corresponds to systolic ejection — the phase of the cardiac cycle when blood is rapidly ejected from the left ventricle into the aorta.

Isovolumic contraction precedes ejection and is represented by a flat baseline with no flow as ventricles build pressure. Isovolumic relaxation occurs after ejection before the mitral valve opens. Early diastole corresponds to mitral inflow, not aortic outflow.

This timing and flow pattern are standard in echocardiographic Doppler interpretation as described in the "Textbook of Clinical Echocardiography" and ASE Doppler imaging guidelines【16:Textbook of Clinical Echocardiography, 6e†p.100-105】【12:ASE Doppler Guidelines†p.50-55】.

The echocardiographic image is a four-chamber view focusing on the mitral valve apparatus. The arrow points to the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve, which is typically more prominent, triangular in shape, and located adjacent to the aortic valve in the left ventricular outflow tract region.

The posterior leaflet of the mitral valve is generally smaller, has multiple scallops, and is located posteriorly relative to the anterior leaflet. The septal leaflet is part of the tricuspid valve on the right side of the heart. The "left leaflet" is a non-specific term and not an anatomical descriptor.

This differentiation between anterior and posterior leaflets is important for understanding mitral valve pathology and for interventions such as mitral valve repair. These features are clearly explained in echocardiography texts and ASE valve imaging guidelines【12:ASE Valve Imaging Guidelines†p.180-185】【16:Textbook of Clinical Echocardiography, 6e†p.200-205】.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Contrast echocardiography is recommended to enhance the visualization of left ventricular endocardial borders when the image quality is suboptimal. Specifically, contrast agents should be used when at least three contiguous left ventricular segments are poorly visualized on standard two-dimensional imaging. This approach improves the accuracy and reliability of assessing regional wall motion and global systolic function.

The use of contrast is particularly important during stress echocardiography to ensure detection of ischemic segments, which might otherwise be missed due to inadequate image quality. Studies suggest that contrast enhancement is required in approximately 30% to 50% of stress echocardiographic studies depending on patient factors and laboratory practices.

These recommendations are detailed in the echocardiography guidelines and in the "Textbook of Clinical Echocardiography, 6e" (Chapter 8: Coronary Artery Disease and Stress Echocardiography) which emphasize the utility of contrast agents for better endocardial border definition when at least three segments are not clearly seen .

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

A Swan-Ganz catheter (pulmonary artery catheter) is inserted via the venous system into the right atrium, right ventricle, and then into the pulmonary artery. The catheter passes through the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) before entering the pulmonary artery.

Therefore, echocardiographic visualization of the Swan-Ganz catheter is best achieved in the right ventricular outflow tract or main pulmonary artery, often seen as an echogenic linear structure.

It would not be found in the left ventricular outflow tract (aortic valve region), pulmonary veins, or descending aorta as these are on the left heart or arterial side and not part of the catheter’s path.

This is a well-known anatomical fact described in echocardiography procedural references and clinical guidelines on invasive hemodynamic monitoring【16:Textbook of Clinical Echocardiography, 6e†p.310-315】【12:ASE Invasive Monitoring Guidelines†p.450-455】.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Biplane disk summation (Simpson’s method) of left atrial (LA) volume, indexed to body surface area, is the most accurate and recommended method for assessing LA size. This method accounts for the asymmetrical shape of the LA and provides reproducible volume measurements.

3D imaging can provide even more precise volume data but is less widely available and less standardized. Linear dimension and planimetry are less accurate because they do not fully represent LA size.

ASE chamber quantification guidelines strongly recommend biplane volume measurement for LA size assessment in clinical practice【12:ASE Chamber Quantification Guidelines†p.90-95】【16:Textbook of Clinical Echocardiography, 6e†p.120-125】.

In cardiac tamponade, there is a characteristic reciprocal respiratory variation in transvalvular flow velocities due to ventricular interdependence and impaired cardiac filling. During expiration, the intrathoracic pressure increases, which leads to decreased right ventricular filling and thus decreased transtricuspid flow velocity. Simultaneously, left ventricular filling increases, causing an increase in transmitral flow velocity.

Therefore, during expiration, the transmitral gradient increases while the transtricuspid gradient decreases. This phenomenon reverses during inspiration, where transtricuspid flow increases and transmitral flow decreases. These respiratory variations are diagnostic hallmarks of tamponade physiology and help distinguish it from other conditions.

This principle is illustrated in Doppler echocardiographic studies of ventricular inflow and is described with diagrams in the "Textbook of Clinical Echocardiography, 6e" (Chapter 10: Pericardial Disease), highlighting the changes in transmitral and transtricuspid velocities during the respiratory cycle in tamponade .