top of page
Search

It's Medical Monday!


Good morning everyone and welcome to our next week of aortic valve education! This week we're talking about aortic regurgitation!



What Is Aortic Regurgitation?

Last week, Adham did a great job introducing us to the aortic valve and its different components (if you missed it, use this LINK) .


He taught us to think of the aortic valve as a one way door between the heart and the rest of your body. Normally, this door swings open when your heart beats, letting blood flow forward, then snaps shut to prevent any backflow. Normal aortic anatomy (simply meaning the anatomy that the highest percentage of people are born with) includes three leaflets that, when working correctly, come together perfectly to seal prevent blood from coming back into the heart. 



In aortic regurgitation (AR), the doors (aka leaflets) don’t come together and make a perfect seal. The resulting space allows for some blood to leak backward into the heart with each beat. The term "regurgitation" literally means "flowing back" which is exactly what's happening!




AR is much more common in people with bicuspid aortic valves, connective tissue disorders like Marfan or Loeys-Dietz syndrome, or those who've had aortic surgery.


Why Does the Valve Start Leaking?

There are two main categories:

Valve Problems:

  • Bicuspid aortic valve (two leaflets instead of three)

  • Infection damaging the valve (endocarditis)

  • Rheumatic heart disease

  • Being born with valve abnormalities

Aortic Problems:

  • The base of the aorta (the root) and the aortic valve are intimately connected. When the aortic root stretches too wide, the valve leaflets can't reach each other to close properly

  • Aortic dissection disrupting valve function

  • Changes after aortic surgery


For those with connective tissue disorders, this is why your doctors watch your valve so closely: when the aorta enlarges, it can pull the valve leaflets apart!


How Doctors Track It

The echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) is the cardiologists and the surgeon’s favorite tool. It gives them a great image of the heart’s function and shows how much blood is leaking backwards. They are then able to grade the degree of AR  as either trace, mild, moderate, or severe which can help influence treatment options. In the image below, the black and white picture in the top left is the view of the heart on the echo that they are using the evaluate AR!





Next week, we'll be covering bicuspid valves. Until then, Think Aorta!

Jack

 
 
 
bottom of page