Adult Echocardiography Practice Exam

What echocardiographic finding would most likely indicate the presence of a third heart sound (S3)?

1. Increased left ventricular compliance

2. Heart failure

3. Normal ventricular function

4. Right ventricular hypertrophy

The correct answer is: Heart failure

A third heart sound (S3) is typically associated with conditions where there is rapid filling of the ventricles, which often occurs in the setting of heart failure. In heart failure, particularly when it is related to volume overload, there is a decline in the heart's ability to fill properly, which can lead to the dynamic changes in left ventricular pressures and volumes that contribute to the generation of an S3 sound. Increased left ventricular compliance can suggest different states of heart function, typically seen in conditions such as early diastolic filling but does not specifically correlate with the presence of an S3. Normal ventricular function would not produce an S3, as the hemodynamics are stable under normal circumstances without the rapid filling that produces the sound. Right ventricular hypertrophy does not typically result in an S3 and is more associated with different heart sounds due to the altered pressures in the right side of the heart. Therefore, the presence of a third heart sound is most closely linked to heart failure, making that option the most appropriate choice in this context.