What procedure introduces contrast into the aorta to determine aortic insufficiency?

What procedure introduces contrast into the aorta to determine aortic insufficiency?

• A. Aortography
• B. Ventriculography
• C. Angiography
• D. Catheterization

Answer: (A)

Aortography directly visualizes the aorta by injecting contrast into it during left heart catheterization, which is how aortic insufficiency is assessed. By outlining the aortic root and valve, you can see whether contrast flows back into the left ventricle during diastole, indicating regurgitation and allowing evaluation of its severity. Ventriculography focuses on the left ventricle to assess its size and function and may show regurgitation indirectly, but it does not specifically image the aortic root. Angiography is a general term for imaging vessels with contrast, and catheterization is the broader procedure of accessing the heart; neither is the specific method used to introduce contrast into the aorta for evaluating aortic insufficiency.

Aortography directly visualizes the aorta by injecting contrast into it during left heart catheterization, which is how aortic insufficiency is assessed. By outlining the aortic root and valve, you can see whether contrast flows back into the left ventricle during diastole, indicating regurgitation and allowing evaluation of its severity.

Ventriculography focuses on the left ventricle to assess its size and function and may show regurgitation indirectly, but it does not specifically image the aortic root. Angiography is a general term for imaging vessels with contrast, and catheterization is the broader procedure of accessing the heart; neither is the specific method used to introduce contrast into the aorta for evaluating aortic insufficiency.