Aortic insufficiency medical treatment


 * Associate Editor-In-Chief: Varun Kumar, M.B.B.S., Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan, M.B.B.S.

Overview
Patients with acute severe aortic insufficiency are usually managed with emergency aortic valve replacement/repair. However they can be stabilized medically before surgery with vasodilators.

Nitropruside
Nitroprusside which lowers afterload and thereby reduces retrograde flow and thereby reduces left ventricular end diastolic pressure.

Inotropic Agents
Inotropic agents such as dopamine and dobutamine can also be used to increase the contractility of heart resulting in improved forward flow.

Beta Blockers
Beta blockers which are often used in managing aortic dissection should be used very cautiously in the presence of acute aortic insufficiency as beta blockers can block the compensatory tachycardia and worsen the cardiac output.

Antibiotics
Patients who are hemodynamically stable with mild aortic insufficiency secondary to infective endocarditis can be managed with antibiotics alone.

Intraaortic balloon pump
Insertion of an intraaortic balloon pump is contraindicated in the treatment of aortic insufficiency; as it may worsen the severity of the regurgitation.