Treatment for Aortic Valve Regurgitation

Types of treatment

Treatment depends on the cause of your condition and how severe it is.

With mild to moderate aortic valve regurgitation, you may have no symptoms. And you may have normal heart function and size. If your condition is mild to moderate, you may be treated with:

• Regular monitoring. This includes regular checkups to check the degree of leaking and how well the chambers of your heart are working.

• Risk factor management. Your health care provider will help you manage conditions that can cause aortic valve disease, such as high blood pressure. Your provider may prescribe certain blood pressure medicines, such as ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors, ARBs (angiotensin II receptor blockers), or calcium channel blockers.

You may need surgery if your condition is severe, especially if you have symptoms, your heart function is reduced, or your heart is enlarged.

• Surgery. Most often the aortic valve will be replaced with either a mechanical or tissue valve depending on your age, your risk factors, and other conditions. In rare cases, the valve may be repaired instead of replaced. Part of the aortic root may also be replaced with a graft if needed. The aortic root is the part of the valve that is closest to and attached to the heart.

  • If you get a mechanical aortic valve, your provider may prescribe a blood thinner to prevent the valve from developing blood clots.

  • If you have any type of valve replacement, you will need to take antibiotics before certain procedures to reduce the risk for heart valve infection.

• Medicines. For some people who can't have surgery, medicines such as ACE inhibitors or calcium channel blockers may be used to ease some of the pressure on the heart. If you have heart failure, medicines such as diuretics (water pills) are used to prevent fluid retention.

Acute severe aortic valve regurgitation is a medical emergency. Surgery is often done right away.

An infection of the heart valves can cause acute mild valve regurgitation. You may only need antibiotic medicine for the infection.

Possible complications of aortic valve regurgitation

Possible complications of aortic valve regurgitation can include:

• Heart failure.

• Bulging or weakening of the aorta (aortic aneurysm).

• Bacterial infection of the heart valves.

• Problems from valve replacement surgery.

• Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmias).

• Sudden death.

To reduce the risk for other problems, you may be given medicines such as:

• Blood thinners to prevent blood clots if you've had valve surgery.

• Antibiotics before some medical and dental procedures to prevent infections.

• Medicines to help the heart pump.

Living with aortic valve regurgitation

See your health care provider for regular checkups. Call right away if your symptoms change. Make sure to:

• Watch for symptoms when you exercise. Early symptoms may be noticed during exercise or activity.

• Talk with your provider about exercise and physical activity.

• Tell all of your health care providers, including your dentist, about your condition.

• Eat a low-salt, heart-healthy diet. This helps lower your blood pressure and reduce the stress on your heart.

• Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and over-the-counter decongestants. This will reduce the risk for irregular heartbeat (arrhythmias).

• Use a cholesterol-lowering medicine, if prescribed.

• Stop smoking. If you need help quitting, talk to your provider.

Preventing aortic valve regurgitation

There are some things that you can do to help prevent aortic valve regurgitation. They include:

• Managing high blood pressure with lifestyle changes and medicine.

• Having a sore throat checked for strep bacteria.

• Taking antibiotics as directed by your health care provider. Do not stop taking them just because you feel better. You need to take the full course of antibiotics.

When to call your health care provider

Call your health care provider or get medical care right away if you have:

• Paler than normal skin.

• Mild dizziness or feel lightheaded.

• Mild, or slowly worsening, shortness of breath.

Your provider may advise a change in medicines or possibly surgery, or a prompt evaluation.

Call 911

Have someone call 911 right away if you:

• Have sudden, severe, or quickly worsening shortness of breath.

• Have a fast (racing) or abnormal heartbeat.

• Have abnormal pain in your chest, shoulder, arm, neck, or upper back.

• Have severe dizziness.

• Faint (lose consciousness).

• Have low blood pressure.