Adult Echocardiography Practice Exam

A dilated left ventricle observed on echocardiography is an important finding that typically indicates potential systolic heart failure. When the left ventricle is dilated, it suggests that the heart muscle may not be contracting effectively, which can lead to reduced cardiac output and inefficient blood pumping. This condition often arises from various underlying issues, including chronic high blood pressure, valvular heart disease, or previous myocardial infarction, all of which can lead to the remodeling of the heart chamber.

In contrast to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, where the left ventricle is typically thickened rather than dilated, and coronary artery disease, which more commonly causes ischemic changes that can lead to either dilation or other forms of remodeling but does not directly indicate dilated left ventricle alone, the presence of a dilated left ventricle is a direct sign of an inability of the heart to maintain normal function. Therefore, this finding is closely associated with heart failure, making it a critical indicator for clinicians assessing a patient's cardiac health.