Aortic regurgitation caused by rupture of a fibrous strand; report of a case
Tamura, K.; Shirai, T.; Ohshima, N.
Kyobu Geka. Japanese Journal of Thoracic Surgery 59(5): 411-413
2006
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-5252 PMID: 16715893 Document Number: 601336
Rupture of a fibrous strand of a tricuspid aortic valve is extremely rare. We describe a patient with aortic regurgitation due to spontaneous rupture of the fibrous strands that suspend the aortic valve leaflets. The fibrous strands were recognized between the left and right coronary cusps, and between the left coronary and non-coronary cusps during the operation. The fibrous strand between the left coronary and non-coronary cusps had been ruptured, and thus the left coronary and non-coronary cusps were prolapsed into the left ventricle. Since a degenerative change was observed histologically in the resected specimen, these fibrous strands were considered to be an embryonic remnant of the aortic valve.