American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

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For diagnosing severe mitral regurgitation, what is the minimum volume capacity (VC)?

Less than 0.7 cm
Between 0.7 cm and 1.0 cm
Greater than or equal to 0.7 cm
Exactly 0.60 cm

The correct answer is: Greater than or equal to 0.7 cm

In the context of diagnosing severe mitral regurgitation, the volume capacity (VC) refers to the effective regurgitant orifice area, which helps clinicians assess the severity of the condition. A VC greater than or equal to 0.7 cm² is an important threshold for identifying severe cases. This measurement indicates that a significant volume of blood is returning to the left atrium during ventricular systole due to ineffective closure of the mitral valve. A value of 0.7 cm² or more signifies that the mitral regurgitation is likely hemodynamically significant, leading to potential heart failure symptoms and requiring closer monitoring and management. Conversely, lower values may suggest less significant regurgitation, thereby revealing why they would not meet the criteria for severe mitral regurgitation.