Flail aortic valve and acute aortic regurgitation due to spontaneous localized intimal tear of ascending aorta.

This report describes the transesophageal echocardiographic findings of acute severe aortic regurgitation resulting from localized transverse intimal tear of ascending thoracic aorta which could not be suspected as a cause of flail aortic valve preoperatively. In patients with chest pain and acute aortic regurgitation associated with flail aortic valve, localized intimal tear of aorta should be considered as a possible cause of flail aortic valve.