[Emergency diagnosis of acute aortic insufficiency using one- and two-dimensional echocardiography]

Acute aortic valve insufficiency generally leads to an emergency situation followed by surgery. Using echocardiography pathological findings of the aortic valve or the ascending aorta leading to acute aortic insufficiency could be differentiated exactly and rapidly in 12 out of 13 cases. Dissecting aneurysms of the aorta and bacterial endocarditis were the most frequent causes (50 and 43%). Our results showed clear-cut superiority of combined use of one- and two-dimensional echocardiography to M-mode techniques. Both methods complement each other with their advantages and disadvantages. With their help recognition of causes of aortic insufficiency is possible more rapidly, safer and with a higher sensitivity than with the M-mode method alone. Invasive diagnostics may thus become unnecessary in the appropriate cases.