Detachment of the mitral valve anterior leaflet as a complication of aortic valve replacement

Mitral regurgitation after aortic valve replacement is generally reported as a complication of a Manouguian's procedure for annulus enlargement. However, even if no annular enlargement procedure is performed, this complication may be encountered after isolated aortic valve replacement because of either extensive decalcification of the aortic annulus or progressive tension on the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve, caused by aortic valve sutures placed adjacent to firm or heavily calcified valve tissue. Routine transthoracic echocardiography may be inadequate for diagnosis of this condition; transesophageal echocardiography should be used both for preoperative diagnosis and for intraoperative management. We report the case of a patient who had severe mitral regurgitation that occurred after aortic valve replacement with a mechanical valve.