Severe aortic regurgitation was discovered in a young man 21 days afte
r blunt chest trauma and after a prolonged febrile stare with positive
blood cultures. Using transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE), it was
possible to make the differential diagnosis between traumatic rupture
and endocarditis as the cause of valvular insufficiency. The use of T
EE in the initial evaluation of severe thoracic trauma with an unclear
clinical picture is recommended. This method is easy to use at the be
dside and gives precise information on the aortic valve and the ascend
ing aorta.