Aortic Valve Incompetence
Aortic insufficiency is a heart valve disease in which the aortic valve weakens or balloons, preventing the valve from closing tightly. This leads to the backward flow of blood from the aorta (the largest blood vessel) into the left ventricle (the left lower chamber of the heart).
Alternative Names
Aortic valve prolapse; Aortic regurgitation
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Aortic insufficiency can result from any condition that weakens the aortic valve. The condition causes dilation...
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From Our Sources
Aortic Valve Disease
Source: HealthCentral Encyclopedia
Aortic Valve Disease entails damage to, and dysfunction of, the aortic valve, one of the four valves in the heart.The most common valvular problem in... Read more »
Aortic Valve Stenosis
Source: HealthCentral Encyclopedia
Narrowing of the aortic valve in the heart.The aortic valve controls blood flow from the left ventricle to the aorta and the rest of the body. It... Read more »
Aortic stenosis
Source: ADAM Encyclopedia
The aorta is the main artery carrying blood out of the heart. When blood leaves the heart, it flows through the aortic valve, into the aorta. In... Read more »
Aortic dissection
Source: ADAM Encyclopedia
Aortic aneurysm - dissectingTreatmentThe goal of treatment is to prevent complications. Hospitalization is required.Type A aortic dissections require... Read more »
Aortic Aneurysms
Source: HealthCentral Encyclopedia
Article updated and reviewed by Neil Siecke, MD, Clinical Insturctor, UCSD Division of Cardiology on July, 28 2005.An aortic aneurysm is a weak spot... Read more »
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