Aortic Regurgitation

Introduction

Welcome to the aortic regurgitation page. On this page we provide a definition, sample heart sounds and links to the training lessons available on this site.

What is aortic regurgitation?

Aortic regurgitation is a heart disease where the aortic valve leaks blood back into the left ventricle. Aortic regurgitation tests may include auscultation, angiography, echocardiogram, left heart cauterization, MRI and chest x-ray.

Auscultation of Aortic Regurgitation

This is an example of mild aortic regurgitation which can be caused by a bicuspid (thickened) aortic valve. The first heart sound is diminished due to premature closure of the mitral valve leaflets. An aortic ejection click follows the first heart sound by 75 milliseconds. S2 is normal. Systole is silent. A high pitched decrescendo murmur occupying the first half of diastole can be heard starting immediately after the second heart sound. The murmur is best heard at Erb's Point and can be accentuated by having the patient sitting up and leaning forward holding his breath after expiration. Turbulent blood flow from the aorta into the left ventricle creates a murmur during early diastole.