Sandbox/AIRSG

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Alejandro Lemor, M.D. [2]

Overview

Aortic insufficiency (AI) refers to the retrograde or backward flow of blood from the aorta into the left ventricle during diastole. Aortic insufficiency can be an acute or chronic illnes and both differ in the causes and management. The most common causes of acute AI are aortic dissection and infective endocarditis and the preffered treatment in both cases surgical intervention. The most common cause of chronic AI is bicuspid aortic valve and the treatment will depend on the stage of the disease in which the patient is. Acute AI is a life-threatening condition and must be recognized and treated promptly.

Causes

Life Threatening Causes

Life-threatening causes include conditions which may result in death or permanent disability within 24 hours if left untreated.

• Aortic dissection
• Infective endocarditis

Common Causes

• Bicuspid aortic valve
• Senile or degenerative calcific aortic valve disease
• Hypertension
• Idiopthic dialation of the aorta
• Myxomatous degeneration
• Rheumatic fever

Click here for the complete list of causes.

FIRE: Focused Initial Rapid Evaluation

A Focused Initial Rapid Evaluation (FIRE) should be performed to identify patients in need of immediate intervention. The algorithm below is based on the 2014 AHA/ACC Guideline for the Management of Patients With Valvular Heart Disease.

Boxes in red signify that an urgent management is needed.

Identify cardinal findings that increase the pretest probability of acute aortic regurgitation ❑ ❑ ❑

Does the patient have any of the following findings that require urgent management? ❑ Tachycardia ❑ Hypotension ❑ Loss of consciousness ❑ Tachypnea

Diagnosis

A complete diagnostic approach should be carried out after a focused initial rapid evaluation is conducted and following initiation of any urgent intervention.

Abbreviations: BP: blood pressure; CXR: chest X-ray; ECG: electrocardiogram; LV: left ventricle

Characterize the symptoms: Acute ❑ Sudden and severe dyspnea ❑ Chest pain ❑ Palpitations Chronic ❑ Dyspnea on exertion ❑ Orthopnea ❑ Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea ❑ Palpitations ❑ Chest pain

Inquire about past medical history: ❑ Previously healthy ❑ Cardiac disease: ❑ Hypertension ❑ Bicuspid aortic valve ❑ Rheumatic fever ❑ Pulmonary disease

Examine the patient: Vitals ❑ Heart rate: tachycardia may be present to compensate for a reduced stroke volume ❑ Blood pressure: wide pulse pressure (systolic BP - diastolic BP ≥ 60 mmHg) Cardiovascular examination ❑ Pulses ❑ Corrigan's pulse:A rapid upstroke and collapse of the carotid artery pulse ❑ Cardiac auscultation ❑ Early diastolic decrescendo murmur ❑ Best heard at the upper left sternal border ❑ Murmur increases with: sitting forward, expiration and handgrip ❑ S3 may be present (suggestive of left ventricular dysfunction) ❑ Austin Flint murmur: a soft mid-diastolic rumble, best heard at the cardiac apex ❑ Traube's sign: systolic and diastolic murmurs described as 'pistol shots' heard over the femoral artery when it is gradually compressed ❑ Search for other signs suggestive of aortic insufficiency ❑ Müller's sign: systolic pulsations of uvula ❑ de Musset's sign: head bobbing with each heart beat ❑ Hill's sign: ≥ 20 mmHg difference in popliteal and brachial systolic cuff pressures, seen in chronic severe AR ❑ Quincke's sign: Pulsation of the capillary bed in the nail Respiratory examination ❑ Rales (seen when congestive heart failure has developed)

Order imaging studies: ❑ Chest X-ray ❑ Increase cardiac silhouette (suggestive of aortic dissection) ❑ Widened mediastinum (suggestive of aortic root dilation) ❑ Pulmonary congestion (suggestive of HF) ❑ ECG ❑ Nonspecific changes of ST and T wave (due to LV enlargement) ❑ Right coronary artery ischemic changes (suggestive of aortic dissection) ❑ TTE Assess the following: ❑ Valve morphology ❑ Pressure gradient ❑ Aortic valve area ❑ Ejection fraction ❑ LV wall thickness and motility

Acute ❑ ❑

Chronic ❑ ❑

Continue with the treatment of acute aortic insufficiency

Interpret the results from TTE

Risk of AI (Stage A) ❑ ❑

Mild to moderate (Stage B) ❑ ❑

Asymptomatic severe (Stage C) ❑ ❑

Symptomatic severe (Stage D) ❑ ❑

Treatment

Treatment of Acute Aortic Insufficiency

Shown below is an algorithm for the treatment of acute aortic insufficiency according to the 2014 AHA/ACC Guidelines on the management of valvular heart disease.

Treatment ❑ The use of nitroprusside and inotropic agents (such as: dopamine and dobutamine) help reduce the LV end-diastolic pressure before surgery ❑ Avoid the use of beta blockers because may block compensating tachycardia

Infective endocarditis

Aortic dissection

Mild or moderate

Severe

Urgent surgical intervention ❑ Aortic valve replacement ❑ Intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation is contraindicated

Antibiotic treatment A complete list of pathogen specific antibiotics regimens with appropriate dosages and duration of treatment is available here

Chronic Aortic Insufficiency

Shown below is an algorithm summarizing the treatment approach to chronic aortic insufficiency (AI) according to the 2008 and 2014 AHA/ACC guidelines on the managenent of valvular heart disease.

Do's

❑

Don'ts

❑ Do not use beta blockers in AI of causes other than AD as it will block the compensation tachycardia. ❑ Do not use intra-aortic baloon counterpulsation in severe acute AI as it will increase the aortic diastolic pressure and the regurgitant volume.

References

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