Clinical & Experimental Cardiology
Open Access

Abstract

Aortic Regurgitation due to Commissural Dehiscence of the Aortic Valve

Ken Okamoto and Toshihiro Fukui*

Commissural dehiscence of the aortic valve is a rare cause of aortic regurgitation. We report a 53-year-old male who had progressive aortic regurgitation and aortic root dilatation. A flap or intimal tear of the proximal aorta was absent with echocardiography and computed tomography. Transesophageal echocardiography revealed prolapse of the right and left coronary cusps with no intimal flap in the ascending aorta. During the operation, there was no dissection or intramural hematoma in the ascending aorta. However, there was dehiscence of the commissure between the right and left coronary cusps of the aortic valve. Aortic root and ascending aortic replacements were successfully performed. Commissural dehiscence of the aortic valve should be taken into account when prolapse of the aortic cusp is the cause of aortic regurgitation.