Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS) Practice Test

An elevated right ventricular end-diastolic pressure (RVEDP) is most commonly found in which pathology?

1. Left-sided heart failure

2. RV infarct

3. Systemic hypertension

4. Pulmonary embolism

The correct answer is: RV infarct

An elevated right ventricular end-diastolic pressure (RVEDP) is primarily associated with conditions that directly impact the right side of the heart. In the case of right ventricular infarction, the heart muscle of the right ventricle is compromised due to the lack of blood flow, often resulting from an occlusion in the coronary arteries that supply it. This impairment can lead to reduced ability of the right ventricle to fill and pump efficiently, thereby causing elevated pressures within the chamber as it struggles to accommodate blood returning from systemic circulation. The other conditions mentioned, such as left-sided heart failure, systemic hypertension, and pulmonary embolism, while they can influence overall heart function, do not typically cause a specific elevation in right ventricular end-diastolic pressure in the same direct manner as a right ventricular infarct. For instance, left-sided heart failure primarily affects the left side of the heart and can lead to issues in assessing the pressures in the right ventricle. Systemic hypertension tends to impact overall pressure in the arterial system rather than focusing solely on the right side. Meanwhile, pulmonary embolism can cause acute changes in pressure dynamics but may not consistently elevate RVEDP like a right ventricular infarct does. Thus, the association of RVED