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ARDMS AE-Adult-Echocardiography Exam Questions
- Topic 1: Anatomy and Physiology: This section of the exam measures skills of adult echocardiography technicians and covers knowledge and abilities related to normal cardiac anatomy and physiology. It includes assessing great vessels like the aorta and pulmonary arteries, recognizing anatomic variants of the heart, and evaluating cardiac chambers, pericardium, valve structures, and vessels of arterial and venous return. Candidates must document normal systolic and diastolic function, normal valve function and measurements, the phases of the cardiac cycle, normal Doppler changes with respiration, and appearance of arterial and venous waveforms. This also involves assessing the normal hemodynamic response to stress testing and maneuvers such as Valsalva, respiratory, handgrip, and postural changes.
- Topic 2: Pathology: This section of the exam measures skills of adult echocardiography technicians and focuses on identifying and evaluating abnormal physiology and perfusion and postoperative conditions. It includes assessment of ventricular aneurysms, aortic and valve abnormalities, arrhythmias, cardiac masses, diastolic dysfunction, endocarditis, ischemic diseases, cardiomyopathies, congenital anomalies, and postoperative valve repair or replacement and intracardiac devices. Candidates must demonstrate ability to recognize abnormal Doppler signals, EKG changes, wall motion abnormalities, and a wide range of cardiac pathologies including pulmonary hypertension and septal defects.
- Topic 3: Clinical Care and Safety: This section of the exam measures skills of adult echocardiography technicians in applying clinical care principles and safety protocols. It includes evaluating patient history and external data, preparing patients including fasting state and intravenous line management, proper patient positioning, EKG lead placement, blood pressure measurement, and ergonomic techniques. Candidates are expected to identify critical echocardiographic findings, know contraindications for procedures, and be able to respond and manage medical emergencies that may arise during echocardiographic exams.
- Topic 4: Measurement Techniques, Maneuvers, and Sonographic Views: This section of the exam measures skills of adult echocardiography technicians in performing accurate cardiac measurements, conducting provocative maneuvers, and obtaining optimized sonographic imaging views. It involves applying 2D, 3D, M-mode, and Doppler techniques to measure heart valves, chambers, and vessels, including the aortic valve, mitral valve, left and right ventricles, atria, pulmonary artery, and shunt ratios. Candidates must instruct patients in maneuvers such as Valsalva, cough, sniff, and squat. They should also be proficient in acquiring standard echocardiographic views including apical, parasternal, subcostal, and suprasternal notch views.
- Topic 5: Instrumentation, Optimization, and Contrast: This section of the exam measures skills of adult echocardiography technicians related to use and optimization of ultrasound instrumentation and the application of contrast agents. Candidates should recognize imaging artifacts, utilize non-imaging transducers, and adjust ultrasound console settings for optimal imaging and Doppler recordings. Knowledge of harmonic imaging, principles of contrast agents, and the safe and effective use of saline and echo-enhancing contrast agents is essential. Candidates must also be able to optimize images when using contrast agents to ensure diagnostic quality.
Free ARDMS AE-Adult-Echocardiography Exam Actual Questions
Note: Premium Questions for AE-Adult-Echocardiography were last updated On Feb. 21, 2026 (see below)
Which patient body positioning and respiration technique is optimal for obtaining the subcostal view?
The subcostal echocardiographic view is best obtained with the patient supine, knees bent to relax abdominal muscles, and the patient holding a deep breath at the end of inhalation to lower the diaphragm and improve acoustic window through the subxiphoid area.
Left lateral decubitus position is used for parasternal and apical views but is not optimal for subcostal imaging.
This patient positioning and respiration technique are described in the 'Textbook of Clinical Echocardiography, 6e', Chapter on Echocardiographic Windows and Imaging Techniques20:90-95Textbook of Clinical Echocardiography.
Which of the following does this Image represent?
Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:
The image shows a pulsed-wave Doppler waveform with respiratory phasicity and distinct forward and reversed flow components characteristic of hepatic vein flow patterns. Hepatic vein Doppler typically displays a biphasic waveform with systolic (S) and diastolic (D) forward flow toward the heart and brief reversed flow during atrial contraction (A wave reversal), reflecting right atrial pressure changes.
Mitral and tricuspid inflow Doppler patterns show distinct E and A waves representing early and late diastolic ventricular filling but do not have the same flow reversal pattern. Pulmonary vein Doppler waveforms also differ, showing systolic and diastolic forward flows into the left atrium without the prominent reversed flow seen here.
The hepatic vein Doppler is commonly used in echocardiography to assess right atrial pressure and compliance, especially in conditions like constrictive pericarditis and right heart failure, where characteristic flow reversals and expiratory changes are observed.
This pattern and its clinical significance are detailed in adult echocardiography references, including the 'Textbook of Clinical Echocardiography' and ASE guidelines on Doppler imaging16:Hepatic Vein DopplerTextbook of Clinical Echocardiography, 6e12:ASE Doppler Guidelinesp.95-100.
Which condition is most plausible based on the finding indicated by the arrow on this image?
The image is a parasternal long axis M-mode echocardiographic tracing demonstrating the interventricular septum and posterior left ventricular wall. The arrow points to the septal ''bounce'' or ''shudder,'' which is an abnormal early diastolic septal motion.
This septal bounce is a classic echocardiographic finding in constrictive pericarditis, caused by rapid early diastolic filling with abrupt cessation due to pericardial constraint, resulting in paradoxical septal motion.
Cardiac tamponade usually shows pericardial effusion with chamber collapse but not septal bounce. Pulmonary embolism and pulmonary hypertension have different echocardiographic signs such as right ventricular dilatation and pressure overload but no septal bounce.
These features are well described in the 'Textbook of Clinical Echocardiography' and ASE pericardial disease guidelines16:Textbook of Clinical Echocardiography, 6ep.280-28512:ASE Pericardial Disease Guidelinesp.300-305.
The parasternal long axis view can be used to visualize which anatomical structure?
The parasternal long axis (PLAX) view provides visualization of the left ventricle, left atrium, mitral and aortic valves, and importantly, the coronary sinus located posteriorly between the left atrium and left ventricle.
The pulmonic valve is best visualized in the parasternal short axis or suprasternal views. The eustachian valve is in the right atrium and visualized best in subcostal or apical views. The left atrial appendage is usually seen in transesophageal echocardiography.
This anatomical visualization is discussed in standard echocardiography textbooks and ASE imaging protocols12:ASE Imaging Guidelinesp.70-7516:Textbook of Clinical Echocardiography, 6ep.100-105.
Which condition is most likely demonstrated by this M-mode image?
The M-mode image shows characteristic diastolic doming or ''hockey stick'' appearance of the anterior mitral leaflet with restricted leaflet motion. This is a classic sign of mitral stenosis, where leaflet thickening and fusion cause limited opening during diastole.
Dilated cardiomyopathy shows increased chamber sizes and decreased systolic function but not mitral leaflet doming. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is characterized by septal thickening and SAM of the mitral valve. Mitral valve prolapse shows leaflet billowing into the left atrium during systole.
This pattern is well described in ASE valvular heart disease guidelines and echocardiography texts12:ASE Valve Imaging Guidelinesp.180-18516:Textbook of Clinical Echocardiography, 6ep.200-205.
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