what is the definition of insufficiency as it relates to a heart valve?
Aortic insufficiency. Aortic insufficiency (AI), also known as aortic regurgitation (AR), is the leaking of the aortic valve of the heart that causes blood to flow in the reverse direction during ventricular diastole, from the aorta into the left ventricle. As a consequence the cardiac muscle is forced to work harder than normal.