Patient/caregiver was educated on aortic regurgitation and its pathophysiology as follows:
- A normal functioning aortic valve closes completely, when the left ventricle relaxes and gets filled with blood from left atrium. Complete closure of aortic valve prevents any back flow of blood from the aorta into left ventricle.
- Aortic regurgitation is an abnormal condition of incomplete closing of the aortic valve, when the left ventricle relaxes. This resulting in back flow of blood from the aorta into the left ventricle.
- Back flow of blood into the left ventricle from the aorta reduces the volume of oxygenated blood pumped out of aorta into the general circulation.
- Reduced output of oxygenated blood from the aorta into general circulation will result in compromised blood and oxygen supply to the vital organs and consequently, affecting their function.
- Progressive back-up of blood into the left ventricle results in backing up of blood on the left side of heart.
- Backing up of blood on the left side of heart can result in increased blood volume and pressure on the left side of heart. Over a period of time, this increased volume and pressure on left side of heart can result in enlargement of the left side of heart, progressive weakening of the heart muscle, and left heart failure.
