Tools of the Trade

Question 1

Mitral regurgitation will lead to flow that passes _________, while mitral valve prolapse will lead to ____________.

Answer 1

through the center of the mitral valve; blood passing along the edge of the left atrium

Question 2

How can atrial septal defect be distinguished from patent foramen ovale?

Answer 2

After giving agitated saline, which makes micro-bubbles, ASDs will have flow that is predominantly left-to-right, while PFOs will have flow that is predominantly right-to-left.

Question 3

Stress tests are used to identify ___________.

Answer 3

sources of chest pain, coronary artery disease, and evaluations after revascularization

Question 4

Those with renal dysfunction should not be given _________ contrast.

Answer 4

gadolinium

Question 5

What parameters are monitored in stress echoes?

Answer 5

Blood pressure, ECG, symptoms, blood flow (on imaging), and wall motion (on echo)

Question 6

What are some contraindications of stress tests?

Answer 6

Uncontrolled HTN, unstable angina, life-threatening arrhythmias, advanced AV block, critical aortic stenosis, systemic illness, pericarditis, HOCM

Question 7

What is the stress test best at identifying?

Answer 7

Left main or three-vessel coronary artery disease

Question 8

What do you look for on a stress echo?

Answer 8

To check if the left ventricle is pumping more vigorously