A Case of Acute Aortic Regurgitation due to Leaflet Dehiscence of a Carpentier-Edwards Pericardial Bioprosthesis 16 Years after Implantation

(Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Seirei Hamamatsu General Hospital, Hamamatsu, Japan)

Masami Shingaki Masaaki Koide Yoshifumi Kunii
Kazumasa Watanabe Kazumasa Tsuda
A 39-year-old woman, who had undergone aortic valve replacement with a Carpentier-Edwards pericardial bioprosthesis 16 years previously, was admitted to our hospital with a diagnosis of acute heart failure due to acute aortic regurgitation. An emergency operation was undertaken with the patient in a state of shock due to sudden cardiac arrest. The ascending aorta was cross clamped, and cardiac arrest was induced, and aortotomy was done. One of the leaflets of the CEP was entirely collapsed and dislocated to the LV side, which caused acute aortic regurgitation. Although there was no evidence of endocarditis, slight calcification and small perforation of the leaflet of the valve was observed. Aortic valve replacement was performed with a mechanical heart valve but it was impossible to wean from ECC, and therefore we additionally performed mitral valve annuloplasty with a prosthetic ring for moderate mitral regurgitation. After 4 h cardiopulmonary assistance, ECC was successfully withdrawn. She was discharged in a good condition an post operative day 29th.
  Jpn. J. Cardiovasc. Surg. 41:228-230(2012)

Keywords:acute aortic regurgitation, pericardial bioprosthesis, leaflet dehiscence