aortic regurgitation

Question 1

AR and associated conditions

Answer 1

rarer
normally complication of rheumatic heart disease

associated with:
- bicuspid AV
- syphillis
- marfans / loeys-dietz / ehlers-danlos syndromes - connective tissue diseases (long fingers and arms)

Question 2

AR symptoms

Answer 2

• shortness of breath
• heart failure symptoms
• palpitations as LV dilates and hypertrophies die to volume overload
• fatigue, weakness and general malaise
• not so common to have chest pain or syncope but possible

acute AR - life threatening emergency

Question 3

aortic regurg signs (4)

Answer 3

• wide blood pressure (big difference between systolic and diastolic)
• collapsing pulse - if you elevate the aem whilsy palpitating the pulse taps then rapidly dissapears
• displaced apex beat
• diastolic murmur

Question 4

AR investigation

Answer 4

similar to others
echo
ct / mri angiography

Question 5

AR management

Answer 5

medical:
- peripheral vasodilators
- ACE

symptoms - signs of lv failure - surgery first line