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Published on: February 25, 2022
Echocardiographic assessment of aortic regurgitation: a narrative review
Vasiliki Tsampasian1, Kelly Victor2, Sanjeev Bhattacharyya3
1Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK. v.tsampasian@uea.ac.uk.
Insights
Aortic regurgitation (AR) is a common valve issue. Echocardiography, including novel methods like strain imaging, is crucial for assessing AR severity, guiding patient management, and improving prognosis.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Aortic regurgitation (AR) is a frequent valvular heart disease.
- It can stem from issues with valve cusps or the aorta.
- Severe AR significantly impacts the myocardium, increasing morbidity and mortality risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the epidemiology of AR.
- To summarize current echocardiographic assessment practices and recommendations.
- To outline novel echocardiographic tools for AR patient management.
Main Methods:
- Narrative review of existing literature.
- Discussion of established echocardiographic techniques.
- Exploration of advanced methods like global longitudinal strain and 3D echocardiography.
Main Results:
- Echocardiography is vital for evaluating AR morphology, mechanism, and severity.
- Established and novel echocardiographic methods aid in risk stratification.
- These tools offer valuable insights for patient prognosis and treatment decisions.
Conclusions:
- Echocardiography plays a key role in diagnosing and managing aortic regurgitation.
- Advanced echocardiographic techniques enhance risk assessment and patient care.
- This review highlights the evolving role of echocardiography in AR management.
Abstract:
Aortic regurgitation (AR) is the third most frequently encountered valve lesion and may be caused by abnormalities of the valve cusps or the aorta. Echocardiography is instrumental in the assessment of AR as it enables the delineation of valvular morphology, the mechanism of the lesion and the grading of severity. Severe AR has a major impact on the myocardium and carries a significant risk of morbidity and mortality if left untreated. Established and novel echocardiographic methods, such as global longitudinal strain and three-dimensional echocardiography, allow an estimation of this risk and provide invaluable information for patient management and prognosis. This narrative review summarises the epidemiology of AR, reviews current practices and recommendations with regards to the echocardiographic assessment of AR and outlines novel echocardiographic tools that may prove beneficial in patient assessment and management.
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