Work

An unusual avulsion of the prosthetic aortic valve with an aortic root pseudoaneurysm: a case report

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Complete avulsion accompanied by aortic root pseudoaneurysm is a rare complication of infective endocarditis (IE). Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) plays an important role in perioperative evaluation. CASE PRESENTATION: A 38-year-old male patient, who underwent a Bentall procedure for an aortic aneurysm 8 years ago, was admitted with avulsion of a prosthetic aortic valve caused by IE. This led to significant structural damage and the development of an aortic root pseudoaneurysm. TEE provided real-time, multidimensional insights into IE-induced changes in adjacent structures and allowed detailed assessment of the composite graft’s integrity. A combined Bentall-Cabrol procedure was successfully performed, guided precisely by TEE findings. This included management of the floating prosthetic aortic valve and reconstruction of the aortic annulus. CONCLUSION: This case highlights the valuable role of TEE in diagnosing and guiding complex surgical interventions for IE, particularly when involving prosthetic valve complications.

Source: Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery

DOI: 10.1186/s13019-025-03758-3

Authors: Jingdan Deng, Mingjing Chen, Zhenghua Xiao, Haibo Song

Institutions: Meizhou City People's Hospital, Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University

Language: English

Topic: Infective Endocarditis Diagnosis and Management

Subfield: Epidemiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,890