Valvuloplasty in traumatic aortic insufficiency due to subtotal tear of the intima

Aortic regurgitation is one of the usual pathologic findings necessitating valve replacement in cardiac surgery. Several diseases may result in leaflet incompetence. Circumferential intimal tear of the aortic root with prolapse of the aortic valve commissures is a rare cause of aortic incompetence. We report the repair of the aortic wall and valve in 1 patient with such a tear 6 months after an important thoracic trauma. Three months after the aortic valve reconstruction the patient is in good condition and fully asymptomatic.