Adult Echocardiography Practice Exam

In the context of tamponade physiology, right ventricular diastolic collapse is a key echocardiographic finding. This occurs due to the increased pressure in the pericardial space, which restricts the filling of the heart chambers during diastole. The pericardial effusion associated with cardiac tamponade exerts pressure on the right ventricle, particularly affecting the moment when the ventricle is relaxed and attempting to fill with blood.

During diastole, if the pericardial pressure exceeds the pressure within the right ventricle, it can lead to a scenario where the walls of the right ventricle literally collapse inward, indicating that the heart is unable to function adequately due to the surrounding fluid. This is a hallmark of cardiac tamponade and is often identified on an echocardiogram as a significant finding, allowing clinicians to realize that intervention may be necessary to relieve the pressure and restore normal cardiac function.

The presence of an enlarged left atrium, thickened myocardium, or increased left ventricular wall motion are not characteristic features of tamponade physiology. In contrast, these findings might suggest other cardiac conditions, such as atrial dilation due to chronic heart failure, hypertensive heart disease, or hyperdynamic