1313 Unusual Supraannular Aortic Root Intimal Tear in a Patient with Severe Aortic Regurgitation

Abstract

Abstract We present an extremely rare case of occult supraannular aortic root intimal tear in a patient presenting with acute severe aortic regurgitation (AR) and a previously undiagnosed bicuspid aortic valve. A 41-year-old Africo-Carribean female presented to the emergency department with acute pulmonary oedema and increasing dyspnea on exertion. She had been treated empirically with antibiotics for a chest infection. Initial concerns were either aortic dissection or infective endocarditis. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) demonstrated a normal size left ventricle with hyperdynamic systolic function and severe AR. The patient was transferred to a tertiary cardiothoracic surgical centre for urgent surgical treatment in view of haemodynamic instability and acute AR. A gated computed tomography aortogram identified pulmonary oedema with an asymmetrically dilated aortic root (maximal diameter 45 mm). Despite advanced multimodality preoperative imaging, diagnosis was made intraoperatively and prompted Bentall procedure with mechanical aortic valve. After median sternotomy and initiation of cardiopulmonary bypass, a supraannular aortic intimal tear starting from the right coronary cusp/noncoronary cusp commissure was found with no extension into the aorta. The aortic valve was bicuspid and severe AR not amenable to repair was found. Bentall procedure was performed using the 23/26mm Carbomedics Carbo Seal Valsalva composite graft (Sulzer Carbomedics Inc, Austin, TX, USA). The patient was discharged on the 7th postoperative day in sinus rhythm. At 30-day clinical follow-up she was symptom free with a satisfactory TTE.