Cardiac-Vascular Nursing (CVRN) Practice Exam

Echocardiography may be useful following an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) for what purpose?

1. Prediction of recurrent ischemia

2. Prediction of tissue viability

3. Detection of cardiogenic shock

4. Detection of wall motion abnormalities

The correct answer is: Detection of wall motion abnormalities

Echocardiography is a valuable diagnostic tool following an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) primarily because it can detect wall motion abnormalities. In the aftermath of AMI, the heart muscle may be affected to varying degrees, leading to areas that are ischemic or infarcted. These affected areas typically show altered or diminished movement when viewed via echocardiography. The assessment of wall motion can indicate regions of the heart that are not functioning properly, which may help in determining the extent of the myocardial damage. Understanding these abnormalities is critical for managing the patient effectively, as it can influence treatment decisions, provide insight into prognosis, and guide interventions such as revascularization. While other options, such as the prediction of recurrent ischemia or tissue viability, hold relevance in cardiac care, their determination through echocardiography is less defined compared to the direct observation of wall motion. Detection of cardiogenic shock, while an important clinical scenario, is generally assessed through clinical evaluation and hemodynamic monitoring rather than echocardiography alone. Therefore, identifying wall motion abnormalities stands out as a key purpose of echocardiography after AMI.