ECHO images

Submitted by Dr. T. Huynh: April 1996

This is a trans-esophageal short axis echo of an 18 year old girl, which clearly shows a unicuspid aortic valve. The top of the figure is the atrium and as you descend you see the aorta and then the central ring which is the unicuspid valve.

FEEDBACK Received:
From P.K. 96/04/11
This is a text-book example of a very rare valvular abnormality. Is this patient being considered for a Ross Procedure surgery?

From Dr. Thao Huynh 96/04/16
Ross procedure: operation where the pulmonary valve is inserted into the aortic position, a cadaver homograft valve is inserted into the pulmonary position.

Although it is definitely more complex and time consuming, the Ross surgery offers the advantage of no long term requirement for anticoagulation and excellent durability.

In light of her recent onset of symptoms (chest pain and palpitations), and the severity of the aortic stenosis (AVA:1.0 cm2 by continuity equation) the patient will undergo a Ross procedure in the near future.