RCIS Practice Test 2026 – All-in-One Exam Prep

Aortic regurgitation is characterized by the backflow of blood from the aorta into the left ventricle during diastole due to an incompetent aortic valve. Over time, this volume overload leads to compensatory changes in the heart's structure and function.

One of the hallmark findings on an echocardiogram for aortic regurgitation is left ventricular hypertrophy. The left ventricle adapts to increased blood volume by growing larger and thicker in an attempt to maintain adequate cardiac output. This hypertrophy is a direct response to the chronic volume overload caused by the regurgitation. On imaging, this can be visualized as increased wall thickness and chamber size of the left ventricle.

Other findings such as a dilated left atrium, thickened mitral valve, or changes in intraventricular septal motion may occur in different cardiac conditions but are not specific indicators of aortic regurgitation. The left ventricular hypertrophy directly correlates with the pathophysiology of aortic regurgitation, making it a key echocardiographic finding associated with this valve disorder.