Cardiovascular

Aortic Regurgitation

Aortic regurgitation allows blood to leak back into the LV during diastole, causing volume overload and progressive ventricular dilatation.

Definition

Aortic regurgitation is retrograde flow from the aorta into the LV during diastole. Consequences depend on regurgitant volume, ventricular adaptation, acuity and associated aortic disease.

First principles

Chronic AR causes volume overload

An incompetent aortic valve causes diastolic backflow. Chronic regurgitation is compensated by LV dilatation and increased stroke volume, but fibrosis and systolic dysfunction eventually develop.

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