7th March 2024

A 45-year-old gentleman with a background of known alcohol excess is referred to your clinic with shortness of breath.

A 45-year-old gentleman with a background of known alcohol excess is referred to your clinic with shortness of breath. On questioning, this has come on over a period of about 1 year, and he is now suffering with orthopnoea, he wakes at night with breathing difficulties and he struggles with breathing difficulties when he bends over.

On examination, you find that he has a regular pulse, a soft systolic murmur radiating to the axilla, a 3rd heart sound and a displaced apex. What are you likely to see on echocardiography?  

Select the SINGLE most appropriate option from the list below. Select ONE option only.