Question

A 50-year-old female presented with dyspnea and chest pain. Which of the following proves that she has aortic stenosis rather than aortic regurgitation?

• A. Increase in myocardial oxygen consumption is seen with increased pressure work than volume
• B. Aortic stenosis causes reduced pressure at aortic valve
• C. Workload has nothing to do with myocardial oxygen consumption
• D. Increase in preload more than afterload than afterload

Hint:

Aortic stenosis is characterized by increased pressure work, leading to increased myocardial oxygen consumption, while aortic regurgitation involves volume work, which does not cause as much oxygen demand.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

To determine if a patient has aortic stenosis rather than aortic regurgitation, we need to understand the differences in how these conditions affect the heart's workload and oxygen consumption:

Aortic Stenosis: This condition results in a narrowing at the aortic valve. As a result, the heart must exert more pressure to pump blood through the narrowed valve. This is known as increased pressure work. The heart compensates for this increased pressure requirement by thickening the ventricular wall, leading to increased myocardial oxygen consumption.

Aortic Regurgitation: In contrast, this condition involves leakage of blood back into the heart due to improper closure of the valve, causing the heart to handle a higher volume of blood. This primarily results in increased volume work, affecting the left ventricle differently compared to stenosis.

Given these differences, the statement "Increase in myocardial oxygen consumption is seen with increased pressure work than volume" correctly identifies a characteristic feature of aortic stenosis. This is because the increased pressure demands of pumping through a narrowed valve are a hallmark of aortic stenosis, leading to a significant rise in myocardial oxygen consumption.