Monitoring aortic valve regurgitation

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Monitoring aortic valve regurgitation

The three factors that will be monitored to determine whether your aortic valve regurgitation is worsening are:

Your ejection fraction, the amount of blood that is leaving your left ventricle.
The size of your left ventricle and whether it is getting bigger.
Whether you have any symptoms.

A declining ejection fraction, an increasing diameter of your left ventricle, and the appearance of symptoms indicate decreasing heart function and worsening regurgitation.

To monitor these factors, your doctor will perform periodic echocardiograms. How often you have echocardiograms will depend on the severity of your regurgitation, or whether you develop symptoms. Mild regurgitation requires an echocardiogram every 2 to 3 years, a moderate condition requires an echo every year, and with severe regurgitation you may have to have an echo every 4 to 6 months.

Credits

Author	Merrill Hayden
Editor	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Associate Editor	Terrina Vail
Primary Medical Reviewer	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology
Last Updated	February 1, 2006

Last updated:	February 01, 2006
Author:	Merrill Hayden
Reviewed By:	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine, Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology
Editors:	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Terrina Vail

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