CORE CLINICAL AORTA IVC QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
An ultrasound of the abdominal aorta should be part of the initial screening evaluation of any patient
presenting with nondescript abdominal, flank, or back pain at risk for vasculopathy. - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅True
Why is it unreliable to rely solely upon the "classic" abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) presentation triad
of back pain, hypotension, and pulsatile abdominal mass for the diagnosis of an AAA? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅All of the Above
A patient with an AAA measuring seven centimeters (cm) in diameter has an up to 5 percent per-year
risk of aneurysm rupture. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅False
A patient found to have an asymptomatic AAA measuring 5.8 cm in diameter during an emergency
department (ED) visit for an unrelated complaint should have __________. - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅an emergent (within hours) vascular surgery consultation
Research suggests that initial examination of the patient with undifferentiated hypotension should
include which of the following types of bedside ultrasonography? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅All of
the Above
The sensitivity of trained ultrasound operators for detecting an AAA is only 60 percent. - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅False
The aorta courses deeper into the abdominal cavity as it descends caudally. - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅False
The descending branches of the abdominal aorta include (from cephalad to caudad) __________. -
CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅celiac trunk, superior mesenteric artery, and renal arteries
When initially locating the abdominal aorta on a transverse view, it is best to use which of the following
as a primary landmark? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The hyperechoic arch of the anterior vertebral
body
, The diameter of a normal segment of the abdominal aorta should be slightly larger than its underlying or
adjacent vertebral body. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅False
A limited bedside ultrasound of the aorta should include __________. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅-a
sagittal view of the abdominal aorta along its entire length
-a transverse view of the aorta that visualizes it from the epigastric area to its bifurcation
Pitfalls of only using a sagittal view when examining the abdominal aorta include obtaining an off-axis
measurement (i.e., image slice does not go through the center of the vessel) that underestimates the
true diameter of the aorta. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅True
When measuring the diameter of the abdominal aorta from anterior to posterior wall, it is very
important to measure from one outer wall to the opposing outer wall of the aorta. - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅True
The ultrasound image characteristics of a thrombus within the abdominal aorta are best described as
__________. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅hyperechoic relative to the true lumen of the aorta
To confirm whether structures along the outer edge of an abdominal aortic aneurysm are vascular in
origin, one may use which of the following techniques? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅-Pulse-wave
Doppler
-Direct visualization
-Color-flow Doppler
Studies suggest that the overall size of the inferior vena cava (IVC), as well as its collapsibility during the
respiratory cycle, correlates to right atrial pressures, and therefore, to central venous pressures. -
CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅True
Which statement below best describes the appearance of the IVC on a transverse view obtained at the
level of the epigastrium? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Hypoechoic, to the left (on the ultrasound
screen) of the aorta
An ultrasound of the abdominal aorta should be part of the initial screening evaluation of any patient
presenting with nondescript abdominal, flank, or back pain at risk for vasculopathy. - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅True
Why is it unreliable to rely solely upon the "classic" abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) presentation triad
of back pain, hypotension, and pulsatile abdominal mass for the diagnosis of an AAA? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅All of the Above
A patient with an AAA measuring seven centimeters (cm) in diameter has an up to 5 percent per-year
risk of aneurysm rupture. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅False
A patient found to have an asymptomatic AAA measuring 5.8 cm in diameter during an emergency
department (ED) visit for an unrelated complaint should have __________. - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅an emergent (within hours) vascular surgery consultation
Research suggests that initial examination of the patient with undifferentiated hypotension should
include which of the following types of bedside ultrasonography? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅All of
the Above
The sensitivity of trained ultrasound operators for detecting an AAA is only 60 percent. - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅False
The aorta courses deeper into the abdominal cavity as it descends caudally. - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅False
The descending branches of the abdominal aorta include (from cephalad to caudad) __________. -
CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅celiac trunk, superior mesenteric artery, and renal arteries
When initially locating the abdominal aorta on a transverse view, it is best to use which of the following
as a primary landmark? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The hyperechoic arch of the anterior vertebral
body
, The diameter of a normal segment of the abdominal aorta should be slightly larger than its underlying or
adjacent vertebral body. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅False
A limited bedside ultrasound of the aorta should include __________. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅-a
sagittal view of the abdominal aorta along its entire length
-a transverse view of the aorta that visualizes it from the epigastric area to its bifurcation
Pitfalls of only using a sagittal view when examining the abdominal aorta include obtaining an off-axis
measurement (i.e., image slice does not go through the center of the vessel) that underestimates the
true diameter of the aorta. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅True
When measuring the diameter of the abdominal aorta from anterior to posterior wall, it is very
important to measure from one outer wall to the opposing outer wall of the aorta. - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅True
The ultrasound image characteristics of a thrombus within the abdominal aorta are best described as
__________. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅hyperechoic relative to the true lumen of the aorta
To confirm whether structures along the outer edge of an abdominal aortic aneurysm are vascular in
origin, one may use which of the following techniques? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅-Pulse-wave
Doppler
-Direct visualization
-Color-flow Doppler
Studies suggest that the overall size of the inferior vena cava (IVC), as well as its collapsibility during the
respiratory cycle, correlates to right atrial pressures, and therefore, to central venous pressures. -
CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅True
Which statement below best describes the appearance of the IVC on a transverse view obtained at the
level of the epigastrium? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Hypoechoic, to the left (on the ultrasound
screen) of the aorta
