Deciding when to operate on a patient with chronic aortic regurgitation may be extremely difficult.
The timing of surgery requires consideration of the etiology and pathophysiology of the aortic
regurgitation, because aortic valve replacement carries morbidity and mortality that must be
weighed against the potential problems of continued medical management. Guidelines for the use
of surgery in patients with valvular disease have been developed by a joint task force of the American
College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association. Practical recommendations based
on these guidelines are presented.
