Figure 1: An intimal flap obstructing orifices of the arch vessels (A). Another flap was seen in the Valsalva sinus and outflow of the left ventricle (B, arrow). There was no intimal flap in the ascending aorta (C). Figure 2: Transoesophageal echocardiography showed the prolapse of the intimal flap into both the left ventricle (systolic and diastolic phase; Left, arrows) and the aortic arch (Ri...

Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) can be both sporadic and hereditary, is phenotypically variable, and genetically heterogeneous. The clinical presentation of BAV is diverse and commonly associated with a high prevalence of valvular dysfunction producing altered hemodynamics and aortic abnormalities (e.g., aneurysm and dissection). The thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) in BAV frequently involves the pro...

We report a relatively rare case of acute aortic regurgitation due to spontaneous laceration of aorta without dissecting aneurysm. A 73-year-old male who had complained of sudden onset of chest discomfort was admitted to our hospital, and severe aortic regurgitation with aortic valve prolapse was detected by echocardiography. There were not any echographic and radiographic evidences of dissecti...

A sinus of Valsalva aneurysm is a rare malformation of the aortic root that can fistulize to another cardiac structure such as the right atrium. Although transthoracic echocardiography and computed tomography angiography have demonstrated utility for the diagnosis of a sinus of Valsalva-to-right atrial fistula, there are few cases where a misdiagnosis may occur. Intraoperative transesophageal e...

We report the case of a 26-year-old male patient with 2-week history of Brucella aortic valve endocarditis that was referred from general hospital to our hospital emergency room with pallor of the skin and mucous membranes accompanied by systemic hypotension and chest pain. Trans esophageal echocardiography (TEE) revealed a 30-mm ascending aorta at the pulmonary trunk with no evidence of the fa...

OBJECTIVE To investigate the incidence of clinical problems related to a bicuspid valve (aortic stenosis and regurgitation) and the incidence of ascending aorta and aortic arch pathology in combination with coarctation repair. PATIENTS 124 adult patients after surgical correction of aortic coarctation were studied. The incidence of aortic valve, ascending aorta, and aortic arch pathology was ...

We report the case of a Caucasian man with the unusual combination of an infundibular ventricular septal defect (VSD), an aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva communicating with the right ventricle, and a bicuspid aortic valve. When aortic valve regurgitation associated with mild right aortic cusp prolapse appeared during follow-up examination, the patient, although totally asymptomatic, underwent...

OBJECTIVE Reoperations on the ascending aorta after prior aortic procedures are formidable challenges. In order to identify factors predictive of clinical outcome using a uniform surgical approach, results of a 15-year experience were reviewed. METHODS Between 1983 and 1998, 78 reoperations on the ascending aorta were performed in 71 consecutive patients. There were 56 males and 15 females, a...

Background. Aortic dissection requires prompt and reliable diagnosis to reduce the high mortality. The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability of both ECG-triggered magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and transesophageal two-dimensional echocardiography combined with color-coded Doppler flow imaging (TEE) for the diagnosis of thoracic aortic dissection and associated epiphenomena. Meth...