Double prosthetic aortic valve. Case report

A 55-year-old man underwent insection of a Hufnagel valve into his descending thoracic aorta for aortic valve insufficiency 18 years ago. He remained asymptomatic for 16 years. Because of progressive left ventricular failure his incompetent aortic valve was replaced with a De Bakey carbon ball aortic valve prosthesis 2 years later. Currently, 21 months after the operation, he is doing well with two aortic valves. Review of the literature suggests that he is the first patient reported with two aortic valves functioning concomitantly and one of the longest surviving patients with a Hufnagel valve.