Aortic Regurgitation Flashcards
1
Q
What does the LV have to accomodate for in aortic regurgitation?
A
- Systolic volume and regurgitant volume
2
Q
What does this cause?
A
- EDV increases
- Systolic pressure increases
- Results in left ventricular hypertrophy and LV dilation
3
Q
What does the LV hypertrophy cause?
A
- Increased O2 demand
- Myocardial ischaemia
- LV failure
4
Q
What happens if the aortic regurgitation is acute?
A
- LV doesn’t have time to compensate
- Wall tension not enough to accomodate
- Poor prognosis
5
Q
What happens in chronic aortic regurgitation (symptoms)?
A
- Long asymptomatic phase
- Dyspnoea oE
6
Q
Signs?
A
- Large volume collapsing pulse
- Wide pulse pressure
- Hyperdynamic/displaced apex beat
- Normal S1/S2
- Early diastolic decrescendo murmur
7
Q
Causes?
A
- DILATED AORTA caused by connective tissue disorders or hypertension
- Leaflet issues
8
Q
Examples of leaflet issues?
A
- Bicuspid aortic valve
- Rheumatic heart disease
- Endocarditis
- Myxomatous degeneration
9
Q
What is myxomatous degeneration?
A
Pathological weakening of connective tissue
10
Q
Initial investigations?
A
- ECG
- CxR
- Cardiac catheterisation
- Echocardiogram
- CMRI
11
Q
What will be seen on the ECG?
A
- ST/T changes
12
Q
What do the ST/T changes suggest?
A
- LV strain
13
Q
What will be seen on the CxR?
A
- Cardiomegaly in chronic AR
14
Q
What will be evident on the echocardiogram about the AV valve?
A
AV cusp anatomy
- Thickening
- Prolapsing
- Number of cusps
15
Q
What else will an echocardiogram show besides AV cusp anatomy?
A
- LV function
- Hypertrophy
- Doppler haemodynamic assessment of regurgitant flow
