Aortic Valve Disease

Aortic Regurgitation.

Expert second opinions for aortic regurgitation. Dual-physician Heart Team review with triple risk scoring. Results in 24 hours.

0.5-1% of adults
Prevalence
Low operative mortality (1-3%) when properly timed
Key Outcome
Often combined with aortic root procedures
Procedures
Quick Answer

Aortic Regurgitation occurs when the aortic valve does not close completely, allowing blood to flow backward into the left ventricle. If you are facing a decision about aortic regurgitation, an independent Heart Team second opinion can confirm whether surgery is the right choice and identify alternatives. WhiteGloveMD delivers dual-physician review with STS, EuroSCORE II, and AATS risk scoring in 24 hours. Get an independent second opinion →

Overview

Understanding aortic regurgitation.

Aortic regurgitation occurs when the aortic valve does not close completely, allowing blood to flow backward into the left ventricle. This volume overload gradually causes the heart to enlarge and weaken. The challenge lies in timing intervention correctly — too early means unnecessary surgery, too late means irreversible heart damage.

Why It Matters

Why you need a second opinion.

Timing of surgery for aortic regurgitation is one of the most nuanced decisions in cardiac surgery. Guidelines provide parameters based on LV dimensions and ejection fraction, but individual patient factors frequently fall into gray areas. A second opinion ensures you are not operating too early or waiting too long.

Critical Decisions

Key decisions for aortic regurgitation.

Optimal timing of surgical intervention
Aortic valve repair vs replacement
Monitoring frequency and progression triggers
Root replacement considerations with aortopathy
Valve selection for younger patients
Risk Factors

What affects your risk.

LV dilation beyond guideline thresholds
Declining ejection fraction trajectory
Concurrent aortic root dilation
Connective tissue disorders (Marfan, Ehlers-Danlos)
Bicuspid valve with associated aortopathy
Our Review

What our Heart Team provides.

Dual-physician review (cardiac surgeon + cardiologist)
Triple risk scoring (STS PROM, EuroSCORE II, AATS)
ACC/AHA guideline mapping with evidence grades
Treatment alternatives with risk-benefit comparison
Surgeon and institution matching via Sentinel
Personalized question guide for your next appointment
Complete provenance trail for every conclusion
Results delivered within 24 hours
Common Questions

Frequently asked questions.

Do I need surgery for aortic regurgitation?

Surgery for aortic regurgitation depends on symptom severity, imaging findings, and risk profile. Guidelines from the AHA/ACC define specific thresholds, but many patients fall into gray zones where a second opinion meaningfully changes the recommendation. Timing of surgery for aortic regurgitation is one of the most nuanced decisions in cardiac surgery. Guidelines provide parameters based on LV dimensions and ejection fraction, but individual patient factors frequently fall into gray areas. A second opinion ensures you are not operating too early or waiting too long.

What are the risks of aortic regurgitation surgery?

Operative mortality for aortic regurgitation-related cardiac surgery is calculated using validated models including STS PROM, EuroSCORE II, and AATS. Individual risk depends on age, comorbidities, frailty, ejection fraction, and surgeon/center volume. Our free calculator at whiteglovemd.com/tools/risk-calculator estimates your specific risk across all three models in real time.

Should I get a second opinion before aortic regurgitation surgery?

Yes. Studies show that 30-40% of expert cardiac surgery second opinions change the original treatment plan — sometimes by recommending less-invasive alternatives, sometimes by clarifying that watchful waiting is safer. WhiteGloveMD pairs a cardiac surgeon and cardiologist with our Clintelligence multi-agent AI pipeline to deliver an independent review in 24 hours, starting at $500.

What is the best treatment for aortic regurgitation?

The optimal treatment for aortic regurgitation depends on anatomy, comorbidities, age, and personal goals. Optimal timing of surgical intervention. A Heart Team review evaluates every viable option — including transcatheter approaches, repair vs replacement, and surgeon/center matching — rather than defaulting to a single recommendation.

Clinical References
  1. Mack MJ, Leon MB, Thourani VH, et al. Transcatheter Aortic-Valve Replacement with a Balloon-Expandable Valve in Low-Risk Patients (PARTNER 3). N Engl J Med. 2019;380(18):1695-1705.
  2. Popma JJ, Deeb GM, Yakubov SJ, et al. Transcatheter Aortic-Valve Replacement with a Self-Expanding Valve in Low-Risk Patients (Evolut Low Risk). N Engl J Med. 2019;380(18):1706-1715.
  3. Otto CM, Nishimura RA, Bonow RO, et al. 2020 ACC/AHA Guideline for the Management of Patients With Valvular Heart Disease. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2021;77(4):e25-e197.
  4. O'Brien SM, Feng L, He X, et al. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons 2018 Adult Cardiac Surgery Risk Models. Ann Thorac Surg. 2018;105(5):1411-1418.
  5. Nashef SAM, Roques F, Sharples LD, et al. EuroSCORE II. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2012;41(4):734-745.

Related conditions.

Aortic Stenosis
Bicuspid Aortic Valve
Mitral Regurgitation
Ascending Aortic Aneurysm
Aortic Dissection
Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Get an expert opinion on your aortic regurgitation.

WhiteGloveMD delivers a dual-physician, AI-augmented second opinion in 24 hours. Starting at $500.

Start Your Review Try the Risk Calculator