Adult Echocardiography (AE) case studies
Adult Echocardiography (AE) · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS) credential is one of the four ARDMS credentials, and ARDMS is described in its own materials as "an Inteleos member community" that has, in its words, set standards for sonography since 1975 - "certification by sonographers, for sonographers." Adult Echocardiography is the RDCS specialty exam for sonographers and physicians who perform and interpret echocardiograms on adult patients, and it is listed by ARDMS alongside Fetal, Pediatric, and other cardiovascular specialties. Because Inteleos describes itself as offering four credentials across eleven unique specialties, candidates should treat Adult Echo as one specialty track rather than a stand-alone certificate. The Adult Echocardiography (AE) case studies are 5 cases and about 2,433 words.
1Aliasing and angle error in a high-velocity aortic jet
A 62-year-old man with exertional syncope is referred for transthoracic echocardiography. The aortic valve is heavily calcified and the LVEF is 55%.
572 words, about 3 min2Beat-to-beat variability in atrial fibrillation: averaging mitral inflow
A 71-year-old woman with permanent atrial fibrillation and HFpEF is studied for worsening dyspnea. Heart rate is 110 bpm and irregular.
480 words, about 2 min3Low-flow, low-gradient aortic stenosis: dobutamine stress decisions
A 78-year-old man with NYHA class III symptoms has LVEF 32%. Rest echo: LVOT diameter 2.2 cm, LVOT VTI 16 cm, aortic valve VTI 44 cm, peak velocity 2.6 m/s, mean gradient 22 mmHg, AVA 0.8 cm², stroke volume index 28 mL/m².
505 words, about 3 min4Constriction or restriction after mediastinal radiation
A 58-year-old woman with a history of mantle radiation for Hodgkin lymphoma presents with progressive dyspnea and lower-extremity edema. Echo: LVEF 60%, normal wall thickness, LA volume index 38 mL/m², moderate biatrial enlargement, pericardial thickness 5 mm without effusion.
445 words, about 2 min5Hyperdynamic LV with low stroke volume in septic shock
A 44-year-old man with septic shock is on norepinephrine, MAP 62 mmHg, heart rate 120 bpm, and has received 4 L crystalloid. Bedside echo: LVEF 75%, LVOT diameter 1.8 cm, LVOT VTI 12 cm, no pericardial effusion, mild MR.
431 words, about 2 min