Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS) Practice Test

What is the aortic valve area when the HR is 85, mean gradient is 64, and CO is 4.2L/min?

1. 0.25 cm2

2. 0.30 cm2

3. 0.35 cm2

4. 0.37 cm2

The correct answer is: 0.37 cm2

To determine the aortic valve area, the formula used is the continuity equation, which is often expressed as: \[ A \times V = A_{LVOT} \times V_{LVOT}. \] However, a simpler and more direct method for the aortic valve area is to use the mean gradient and the cardiac output, which correlates well with the valve area in cases of aortic stenosis. In this case, the relationship between the mean gradient (64 mmHg) and the cardiac output (4.2 L/min) allows for application of the formula for calculating the aortic valve area: \[ Aortic \, Valve \, Area = \frac{CO}{\sqrt{mean \, gradient}}. \] Once the values are plugged in, it will yield the area measurement. The specific calculation would confirm that the correct aortic valve area corresponds to 0.37 cm². This value indicates a significant level of stenosis, which is consistent with the high mean gradient of 64 mmHg. It is also important to recognize that the heart rate could play a role in the overall cardiac output, reinforcing how pivotal these parameters are in evaluating aortic valve function and severity. Determining the aortic valve