Valve replacement via upper partial sternotomy for quadricuspid aortic valve.

A 52-year-old man was referred to our clinic because of chronic heart failure. A Levine 3/6 diastolic heart murmur was audible at the apex. Chest radiography showed an enlarged left ventricle. Transthoracic echocardiography showed moderately severe aortic regurgitation. Left ventricular end-diastolic/systolic diameter and ejection fraction were 75/59 mm and 41 %, respectively. Preoperative transesophageal 3-dimensional echocardiography revealed a quadricuspid aortic valve whose cusps were of almost equal size. Aortic valve replacement was performed via upper partial sternotomy.