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Heart, section through the middle Heart, front view Aortic insufficiency
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Aortic insufficiency
Alternative Names: Aortic valve prolapse; Aortic regurgitation Symptoms: marked, unpleasant sensation of heart beating (palpitations) pulse, bounding irregular, rapid, racing, pounding or fluttering pulse fainting weakness, particularly with activity shortness of breath with activity or when lying down fatigue, excessive tiredness chest pain, angina type (rare) under the sternum, may radiate crushing, squeezing, pressure, tightness pain increases with exercise, relieves with rest Note: Commonly, aortic insufficiency shows no symptoms for many years. Symptoms may then occur gradually or suddenly. Signs and tests: Text Continues Below Auscultation (listening to the chest with a stethoscope) detects a heart murmur. Palpation (examination by hand) may show hyperdynamic (very forceful) beating of the heart. Pulse pressure (the difference between systolic blood pressure -- the pressure during contraction of the heart -- and diastolic blood pressure -- the pressure during relaxation of the heart) may be widened, and diastolic blood pressure may be low. There may be signs of pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs). Aortic insufficiency may be seen on: echocardiogram - ultrasound examination of the heart transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) Doppler ultrasound aortic angiography left heart catheterization Page:  1 | 2 | Next >>