Question

False overriding of the aorta may be produced on the m-mode echo by:

a) using a transducer with too low a frequency
b) failure to turn the patient into a left decubitus position
c) positioning the transducer in too high an intercostal space
d) positioning the transducer in too low an intercostal space

Answer 1

False overriding of the aorta on an echocardiogram can occur if the transducer is positioned in too high an intercostal space. Correct transducer placement is vital for accurate diagnosis during an echocardiogram.

Step-by-step explanation:

The false overriding of the aorta on an M-mode echocardiogram can be caused by incorrect transducer positioning. Among the options given, positioning the transducer in too high an intercostal space can produce the appearance of overriding aorta. Proper probing techniques and patient positioning are crucial in echocardiography to avoid misdiagnoses and to ensure accurate representation of cardiac anatomy. It is important to follow standard procedures during auscultation as well, such as asking the patient to breathe deeply to listen for heart murmurs and to determine the presence of conditions like patent ductus arteriosus and coarctation of the aorta.