AORTIC REGURGITATION - IDENTIFYING AND TREATING ACUTE AND CHRONIC DISEASE

Aortic regurgitation is a serious disorder that can challenge the best clinicians in terms of both diagnosis and management. The chronic for m requires valve replacement when patients have symptoms or show evide nce of left ventricular dysfunction. The acute form requires urgent ao rtic valve replacement. In all cases, medical management is only a tem porizing procedure that can potentially mask the progression of left v entricular dysfunction. Endocarditis prophylaxis for indicated procedu res is mandatory for all patients.