title: Aplasia of the right aortic cusp in a neonate: a life-threatening but curable anomaly.
abstract: A case of absent right aortic cusp causing serious aortic incompetence in a neonate is reported. A "bicuspidalization" repair broke down within 24 hours, but reoperation with annular enlargement and insertion of a 19-mm prosthetic valve resulted in complete recovery. This rare but life-threatening anomaly of the aortic valve can be recognized with Doppler echocardiography. Valve replacement in conjunction with aortic annular enlargement should be performed as primary repair.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Henze
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Malm
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Sunnegårdh
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Hallberg
mesh_terms: D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000002:abnormalities*; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012086:Reoperation