Incisura is absent in ?
**Core Concept**
The incisura is a normal anatomical feature of the left ventricular (LV) pressure tracing, representing the point where the pressure in the LV falls below that in the aorta during diastole. This occurs due to the closure of the aortic valve and the subsequent equalization of pressures between the LV and the aorta.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The absence of the incisura is a hallmark of aortic regurgitation, where the aortic valve fails to close properly, allowing blood to flow back into the LV during diastole. This results in a continuous, smooth decline in LV pressure throughout diastole, without the characteristic dip seen in normal hearts. The regurgitant flow into the LV increases the volume of blood in the ventricle, leading to increased LV end-diastolic pressure and a loss of the normal incisura.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** Absence of incisura is not typically seen in constrictive pericarditis, where the incisura may be preserved due to the stiffened pericardium preventing the normal filling of the LV.
**Option B:** Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) may show a double peak in the LV pressure tracing, but the incisura is typically preserved.
**Option C:** Atrial septal defects (ASDs) may show a decrease in LV pressure due to increased left-to-right shunting, but the incisura is not typically absent.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
A key point to remember is that the absence of the incisura in the LV pressure tracing is highly suggestive of aortic regurgitation, and should prompt further investigation to confirm or rule out this diagnosis.
**Correct Answer:** D.