Aortic-left ventricular discontinuity of noninfectious origin.

The existence of a cavity of noninfectious origin between the annulus of the ascending aorta and the left ventricle is described. Aortic-left ventricular discontinuity occurred as a late complication of aortic valve replacement in an octogenarian. A patient with severe symptomatic aortic valve stenosis underwent aortic valve replacement and aortic root enlargement into the noncoronary sinus with pericardial tissue. Four months after her valve surgery the patient presented with shortness of breath. Angiocardiography and transoesophageal echocardiography revealed a complex, irregular pouch at the right coronary cusp side of the valve with paravalvular leakage back into the left ventricular outflow tract. Reoperation was performed, the disconnection between the aortic annulus and the left ventricle was repaired and the valve was replaced. The aortic-left ventricular discontinuity did not involve the area where aortic root enlargement was performed. No evidence of infection was found and the most likely cause of the reported complication is mechanical in nature.