Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS) Practice Test

An elevated right atrium waveform can be caused by which conditions?

1. Tricuspid regurgitation

2. Right ventricular myocardial infarction

3. Atrial septal defect

4. All of the above

The correct answer is: All of the above

An elevated right atrium waveform is indicative of increased pressure or volume in the right atrium, and this can occur due to various conditions affecting the heart and circulation. Tricuspid regurgitation leads to backward flow of blood from the right ventricle into the right atrium during systole, resulting in elevated pressures and consequently a higher waveform. This regurgitation can stem from valvular disease or dilation of the right ventricle. Right ventricular myocardial infarction can impair the function of the right ventricle, which may lead to an increased volume of blood remaining in the right atrium and subsequently higher pressures, thus elevating the waveform. This is particularly common in cases where the right coronary artery is affected, which supplies blood to the right ventricle. Atrial septal defect (ASD) involves a shunt that allows blood to flow from the left atrium to the right atrium. This left-to-right shunting causes an overload of blood in the right atrium, resulting in increased pressure and elevation of the waveform as the right atrium works harder to accommodate the excess blood. Due to the involvement of all these conditions in causing elevated pressures in the right atrium, the correct answer encompasses all the designated