Maryam Esmaeilzadeh1, Hedieh Alimi2, Majid Maleki1, Saeid Hosseini3. 1. Echocardiography Research Center, Rajaie Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran. 2. Emam Reza Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Iran. 3. Heart Valve Disease Research Center, Rajaie Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Heart valve injury following blunt chest trauma of car accidents is increasing. Although aortic valve involvement is rare, however, in survivors of blunt cardiac trauma it is the most commonly involved valve and the most frequent valve lesion is isolated injury of the noncoronary cusp of aortic valve. CASE PRESENTATION: A 31-year-old man with a history of car accident (five months before) was referred to our clinic because of shortness of breath. A holo-diastolic blowing murmur was heard on physical examination. Transesophageal echocardiography demonstrated severe aortic insufficiency secondary to rupture of the left coronary cusp associated with avulsion of aortic valve commissure. CONCLUSIONS: Since the aortic valve is rarely affected in blunt cardiac injury, it will be generally undiagnosed during the primary evaluation of a patient with blunt chest trauma. However, any patient presenting dyspnea after chest trauma should be examined for suspected aortic valve injury.
INTRODUCTION:Heart valve injury following blunt chest trauma of car accidents is increasing. Although aortic valve involvement is rare, however, in survivors of blunt cardiac trauma it is the most commonly involved valve and the most frequent valve lesion is isolated injury of the noncoronary cusp of aortic valve. CASE PRESENTATION: A 31-year-old man with a history of car accident (five months before) was referred to our clinic because of shortness of breath. A holo-diastolic blowing murmur was heard on physical examination. Transesophageal echocardiography demonstrated severe aortic insufficiency secondary to rupture of the left coronary cusp associated with avulsion of aortic valve commissure. CONCLUSIONS: Since the aortic valve is rarely affected in blunt cardiac injury, it will be generally undiagnosed during the primary evaluation of a patient with blunt chest trauma. However, any patient presenting dyspnea after chest trauma should be examined for suspected aortic valve injury.
Authors: Michael P Siegenthaler; Stefan Asbach; Annette Geibel; Christian Schlensak; Koppany Sarai; Christoph Bode; Friedhelm Beyersdorf Journal: Circulation Date: 2005-08-30 Impact factor: 29.690