Open AccessEchocardiographic and hemodynamic features of severe aortic regurgitation with diastolic opening of the aortic valve
Author(s) -
Martinez E. E.,
Herman M. V.,
Kay R. H.,
Pontes S. C.,
Brandao A. C.,
Pfefferman A.,
Arroyo J. B.,
Portugal O. P.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
clinical cardiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.263
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1932-8737
pISSN - 0160-9289
DOI - 10.1002/clc.4960090513
Subject(s) - medicine , regurgitation (circulation) , cardiology , diastole , aortic valve , hemodynamics , ventricular pressure , systole , blood pressure
Severe aortic regurgitation may be associated with premature aortic valve opening. Several possible etiologies for this diastolic opening have been suggested. We present a patient with hemodynamic data, M‐mode and 2‐D echocardiography in the setting of severe aortic regurgitation and diastolic aortic valve opening. Our data lead us to conclude that aortic valve opening in this situation is neither from passive flotation nor dependent on atrial systole. We believe that active ventricular recoil mechanisms can facilitate increases in diastolic ventricular pressure which then can transiently exceed aortic pressure in the setting of severe aortic regurgitation. This hemodynamic observation suggests that the valve opening is an active process.