Subaortic pseudoaneurysm of the left ventricle complicating staphylococcal endocarditis.

Subaortic pseudoaneurysms are rare but can be a cause of sudden death in young individuals. This case report involves a 20-year-old Vietnamese male who died suddenly from rupture of a subaortic pseudoaneurysm with resultant hemopericardium with tamponade. He had a history of bicuspid aortic valve with recent but healed Staphylococcal endocarditis. A review of the literature reveals few similar cases and enlightens the association between aortic bicuspid valve, endocarditis, and subvalvular aortic aneurysm. The pathogenesis as well as recent studies that identified aneurysm predisposing genes in patients with bicuspid aortic valve will be discussed.