title: Acute traumatic disruption of a bicuspid aortic valve.
abstract: Cardiac involvement is frequent in patients with blunt chest trauma and multiple injuries. Different cardiac structures can be involved, but isolated aortic valve rupture is rare. We report the case of a man admitted to our hospital with multiple injuries as a result of a car crash. Transthoracic, followed by transesophageal echocardiography, revealed disruption of a large anterior bi-coronary cusp in a bicuspid valve with severe aortic regurgitation, without lesions or abnormalities of thoracic aorta. Aggressive pharmacological management consented to delay valve replacement to obtain resolution of concomitant pulmonary injuries.
authors.affiliation: ASL 4, Ospedale Giovanni Bosco, Divisione di Cardiologia, Piazza Donatore di sangue 3, 10100 Torino, Italy. monica.anselmino@fastwebnet.it
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anselmino
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andria
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lusardi
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery