Why the study?
Identifying the etiology of aortic insufficiency is essential in managing patients with valvular heart disease.
Highlights a rare anatomic abnormality (three retracted cusps in a trileaflet aortic valve) as an etiology for severe aortic insufficiency requiring valve replacement.
Rare retracted-cusp TAV anatomy warrants consideration in unexplained AI; Level 5 evidence leaves open prevalence and management implications.
Identifying the etiology of aortic insufficiency (AI) is essential in the management of the patient with valvular heart disease. We report the case of a 34-year-old male who presented with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class IV symptoms. The physical exam was consistent with AI, which was confirmed on echocardiography. Interestingly, the trileaflet aortic valve (TAV) was comprised of three retracted cusps, a rarely cited anatomic abnormality yielding AI. The patient underwent an uncomplicated aortic valve replacement (AVR).
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Libera et al. (2022) studied this question.
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