title: Severe aortic insufficiency secondary to an aortic bioprosthesis tear.
abstract: A patient with a 10-year-old Medtronic Hancock II porcine aortic bioprosthesis developed severe aortic insufficiency. A transesophageal echocardiogram showed a long and mobile mass attached to the bioprosthesis which was consistent with a torn cusp. The patient underwent replacement of the prosthesis with a mechanical valve. Pathological examination showed two subacute tears arising from the same suture buttressing site. These two tears allowed a portion of the valve apparatus to prolapse.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, 40 Ruskin Street, Suite H3407, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1Y 4W7. lbeauchesne@ottawaheart.ca
authors.forename: Luc M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Beauchesne
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Veinot
authors.forename: Lyall A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Higginson
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mesana
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology*; D001705:Bioprosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004452:Echocardiography; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000151:congenital / Q000601:surgery; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D012086:Reoperation