Rare Case of Large Double Perforated Anterior Mitral Leaflet Pseudoaneurysm in a Patient with Aortic Valve Endocarditis

Introduction

The mitral valve pseudoaneurysm is a localized outpouching of the mitral leaflet arising as a result of extension of the infection from the aortic valve. The pseudoaneurysm is most commonly perforated and communicates with adjacent heart cavities. (Karalis DG et al. Circulation 1992; 86: 353–362). Before the era of echocardiography, pseudoaneurysms were diagnosed during surgery (Reid CL et al. Am J Coll Cardiol 1983; 2: 460–464) or autopsy (Saphir O et al. Am J Pathol 1948; 24: 83–95). Echocardiography, especially transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), is currently a method of choice for the diagnosis of endocardi tis and its complications.

This article presents echocardiographic findings of a large pseudoaneurysm of the anterior mitral leaflet (AML) in a patient suffering from aortic valve endocarditis.