Dissecting aortic aneurysm after prosthetics of the bicuspid aortic valve

Abstract

The article discusses the problems of bicuspid aortic valve and associated valvulo-aortopathy, including the principles of separate classifications, mechanisms and risk factors of aortic dilatation formation, indications for surgical treatment and type of surgery. A clinical case of the patient with L-R variant of the 1st type of this defect is presented. The valvular pathology she was diagnosed at the age of 24 and aortic valve replacement operation was performed at the age of 34 due to its severe insufficiency. Before the operation, the diameter of the ascending aorta was 4,8 cm, and after 7 years, control echocardiography showed pronounced dilatation of the ascending aorta with signs of dissection. This confirms the opinion about different mechanisms of the formation of this defect and related aortopathy and proves that the latter is caused not only by hemodynamic factors, as it progresses significantly after isolated aortic valve replacement, requiring repeated surgical intervention. An important predictor of aortic diameter growth is pronounced aortic insufficiency at baseline, and the risk factors are hypertension and smoking in past.