Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 30, 2026

Full-root Aortic Valve Replacement by Stentless Aortic Xenografts in Patients with Small Aortic Roots
Published on: May 21, 2017
Spontaneous echo contrast mimicking aortic root thrombus in a patient supported with extracorporeal membrane
Joshua A De Bono1, David C McGiffin1, Benedict J F Waldron2
1Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Abstract:
Aortic root spontaneous echo contrast is a rare but significant finding. We report a 31-year-old female who was placed on venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation emergently for acute mitral regurgitation secondary to papillary muscle rupture. Following stabilization, subsequent transesophageal echocardiography suggested aortic root thrombus and prompted emergent surgery. However, further inspection with intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography revealed a spontaneous echo contrast which aided us in the intraoperative decision making.
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