Near‐complete aortic mechanical valve dehiscence due to endocarditis reinfection

Prosthetic valve infective endocarditis ( IE ) is one of the most serious postimplantation complications. Prosthetic aortic valve IE constitutes 1%–6% of all prosthetic valve IE cases. We present a dramatic echocardiographic case of prosthetic aortic valve IE leading to near‐complete valve dehiscence. Echocardiographic evidence of prosthetic aortic valve rocking motion is indicative of significant dehiscence. Aside from IE , other causes and risk factors for prosthetic aortic valve dehiscence include inflammatory and autoimmune vasculitides, concomitant ascending aorta aneurysm, and aortic root calcification.