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Aortic Incompetence

Aortic incompetence or regurgitation is a condition in which your aortic valve, the valve between your aorta and your left ventricle, does not close properly. The aorta is the artery through which the left ventricle, one of the two lower heart chambers, pumps blood into the body. But if the valve does not close properly, blood may leak back to the left ventricle.

What are the  causes of aortic valve incompetence or regurgitation?

  1. The most likely cause of the disorder is rheumatic fever .
  2. The aortic valve can also be damaged by syphilis but this now causes only about one per cent of all cases.
  3. Infective endocarditis  in which infection can destroy the valve leaflets..
  4. Disorders such as Marfan syndrome and Ehlers Danlos syndrome. These diseases damages the building tissue of the aortic wall. This will lead to dilation of the aorta and the valve leaflets will not be able to come together.

What happens as a result of this Aortic incompetence?

If you have severe aortic incompetence, your left ventricle will enlarge and its walls will thicken. This is a response to the fact that the ventricle must work harder to pump blood through the aorta to the body.

What are the symptoms?

There are often no symptoms for years, but symptoms develop swiftly if the valve is ruptured. The main symptom is shortness of breath. Palpitations  occur in some patients. You may also have angina and all the symptoms of congestive heart failure. If aortic incompetence is left untreated, the disorder can lead to heart failure

What should be done?

Consult your physician if you find that you have any of the symptoms of aortic incompetence. Examination and diagnostic tests are similar to those that are carried out for other heart—valve disorders. A common exception is that blood tests may be included to find out whether you have had syphilis.

  1. Electrocardiogram: can detect abnormal electrical patterns of the thickened left ventricle.
  2. Chest X-Ray: Can show enlargement of the size of the heart.
  3. Echocardiography: gives idea about the degree and severity of aortic incompetence. It also shows the function of the left ventricle.
  4. Cardiac Catheterization: Coronary angiography  is indicated in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement who are suspected to have coronary artery disease.

Treatment:

If you have heart failure , you will be treated with medications.

Aortic valve replacement  is the definitive treatment for aortic incompetence.

 

 

 

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