Case 23-1992

Presentation of Case A 55-year-old man was admitted to the hospital because of recurrent pericardial and pleural effusions after aortic-valve replacement. The patient was in stable health until eight months earlier, when a murmur of aortic regurgitation was heard on a routine physical examination. Further evaluation showed that the left ventricle was enlarged. Six months before entry a Carpentier—Edwards aortic valve was inserted at another hospital. The appearance of the native valve and the cause of aortic regurgitation were not stated. Two weeks after discharge the patient returned to the hospital because of dyspnea, and evidence of a pericardial effusion . . .