Aortic valve repair of non-penetrating traumatic aortic regurgitation.

Traumatic aortic valve rupture is an extremely rare complication of non-penetrating cardiac injury, and may be caused by a tear or avulsion of the cusp or commissure. Transesophageal echocardiography represents the most important tool for evaluating the nature and extent of such traumatic lesions. The case is reported of a 74-year-old male who had sustained a non-penetrating chest injury in a motor vehicle accident, and suffered from aortic regurgitation as a result of rupture of the normal aortic valve. A primary valve repair was performed using an autologous pericardium patch.