SUBVALVULAR AORTIC MEMBRANE MASQUERADING AS VALVULAR AORTIC-STENOSIS

Discrete subvalvular aortic membrane is an unusual cause of left ventr icular outflow tract obstruction. While commonly presenting during chi ldhood, one quarter of the individuals are asymptomatic in childhood b ut remain. vulnerable to progressive outflow tract obstruction as well as bacterial endocarditis in adulthood. Unfortunately, because the co ndition is so uncommon in adults, the diagnosis of subvalvular membran e is often missed or delayed. We recently had the opportunity to care for an adult patient who finally had subvalvular membrane identified a s the cause of a left ventricular outflow obstruction, only after a pr otracted series of diagnostic investigations. Pitfalls in the noninvas ive and invasive diagnosis of this condition are reviewed.