Quadricuspid aortic valve repair by neo-cuspidization of an accessory cusp using autologous pericardium.

ABSTRACT

We present a successful case of the management of a 46-year-old woman with an abnormal aortic valve formed by four cusps (three equal large cusps and one smaller cusp; type B according to the Hurwitz and Roberts classification) with a marked loss of coaptation that caused a severe aortic insufficiency (AI). The patient underwent an aortic valvuloplasty of the defect using the glutaraldehyde (GA)-pretreated autologous pericardium, restoring the subnormal function and competency of the aortic valve. The postoperative course was unremarkable. The early follow-up showed a trivial AI and a significant reduction of regurgitant volume was identified in a cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) when compared to the preoperative state (27.2 vs. 2.1 ml). The follow-up transthoracic echocardiography 1 year after the surgery showed mild AI.