Adult Echocardiography Practice Exam

Which of the following conditions can cause increased left ventricular pressure overload?

1. Aortic stenosis

2. Mitral regurgitation

3. Cardiac tamponade

4. Myocardial infarction

The correct answer is: Aortic stenosis

Aortic stenosis is the condition that can cause increased left ventricular pressure overload. This occurs because the left ventricle must work harder to overcome the obstruction created at the level of the aortic valve during systole. As the valve narrows, it requires a greater pressure generated by the left ventricle to eject blood into the aorta, leading to an increase in left ventricular wall stress and hypertrophy over time. Consequently, this condition is associated with a progressive thickening of the ventricular walls as the heart adapts to the increased afterload. In contrast, mitral regurgitation primarily affects volume overload rather than pressure overload. The left ventricle experiences an increase in blood volume due to the backflow of blood from the aorta during diastole, which leads to dilation rather than isolated pressure overload. Cardiac tamponade results in the external compression of the heart, which impairs the filling of the ventricles and does not directly induce pressure overload in the left ventricle during systole. It typically values problems related to diastolic filling rather than systolic pressure. Myocardial infarction can lead to pressure overload indirectly, especially if it results in left ventricular dysfunction or hypertrophy due to ischemic changes, but