Aortic regurgitation can result from a number of different mechanisms and can be life threatening when severe. In some patients, aortic regurgitation progresses slowly over many years and the appropriate timing of surgery must be determined. In other patients, such as the patient with aggressive endocarditis or with complex aortic dissection, aortic regurgitation can be abrupt, can lead to cardiogenic shock, and must be treated as a cardiac surgical emergency.

Understanding the pathophysiology and natural history of aortic regurgitation is critical to proper management and the natural history of the patient with a prosthetic aortic valve must also be understood by cardiologists and other clinicians working with these patients.

Note: This course is eligible for ACPE credit.

• To enumerate the common etiologies and associated pathophysiology of aortic regurgitation.
• To identify differences in presentation and management of patients with chronic, versus those with acute, aortic regurgitation.
• To characterize physical findings as suggesting acute versus chronic and mild versus severe aortic regurgitation.