CONGENITAL AORTIC REGURGITATION CAUSED BY A RUDIMENTARY NONCORONARY CUSP - REPORT OF A CASE

A 14-year-old asymptomatic boy was admitted to our department for inve stigation of a diastolic murmur which had been discovered by his famil y doctor during a routine examination. Echocardiography showed aortic regurgitation with dilatation of the left ventricle. Inspection of the aortic valve at the time of operation revealed normal left and right cusps with a rudimentary noncoronary cusp. An aortic commissuro-plicat ion was performed and a new bicuspid aortic valve successfully reconst ructed. His postoperative course was uneventful and he has been well a nd leading an active life since his discharge from hospital.