Aortic regurgitation occurs when the aortic valve fails to close properly, leading to blood flow back into the left ventricle during diastole. Early stages may be asymptomatic, but symptoms can progress to include dyspnea, fatigue, palpitations, and heart failure signs. Diagnosis is primarily through echocardiography, with complementary assessments including ECG, chest x-ray, and possibly cardiac catheterization.

1. Aortic
regurgitation
By
Ramasubramanian karthika
3rd year, 3rd group

2. Aortic regurgitation
• The aortic valve allows blood to flow from the left
ventricle of the heart into the aorta and then to the
rest of the body.
• However, in aortic regurgitation, the valve doesn't
close tightly, causing some of the blood to flow
back into the left ventricle during ventricular
diastole

3. Symptoms of aortic
regurgitation
• Asymptomatic: In the early stages, patients may
not notice any symptoms.
• Exertional Dyspnea
• Fatigue
• Palpitations
• Chest Pain
• Heart Failure Symptoms: symptoms such as
orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, and
peripheral edema may develop.

4. Physical examination
• Auscultation: Heart murmurs, including diastolic
murmurs (e.g., decrescendo murmur at the left
sternal border)
• Blood Pressure: Wide pulse pressure, with a systolic
blood pressure higher than usual and diastolic
pressure lower than usual.

5. Heart borders
• Left Ventricular Border: The left ventricular border
may appear enlarged due to left ventricular
hypertrophy and dilation resulting from chronic
volume overload.
• Aortic Outflow Tract: Enlargement of the aortic
outflow tract may be visible on lateral chest X-rays.

6. Radiological signs
• Pulmonary Congestion: Signs of pulmonary
congestion, such as pulmonary venous congestion
or interstitial edema
• Kerley B Lines: These are horizontal lines seen on
chest X-ray, indicating interstitial edema and
congestive heart failure.

7. Clinical Diagnosis
• Echocardiography: The primary imaging modality for
diagnosing aortic regurgitation, assessing the severity,
and identifying structural abnormalities.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG): May show left ventricular
hypertrophy, left atrial enlargement, or arrhythmias.
• Chest X-ray: May reveal cardiac enlargement and signs
of heart failure.
• Cardiac Catheterization: Invasive procedure to directly
measure pressures and assess coronary artery disease

8. Thank you