Discrete membraneous sub-aortic stenosis in adult patient obtained by echocardiography and not proved by catheterization.

A case of a 60-year-old patient with discrete membranous sub-aortic stenosis is described. The diagnosis was established bases on echocardiographic evaluation by demonstration of a premature aortic valve closure and a sub-aortic membrane. No evidence of the sub-aortic membrane was noticed on cardiac catheterization. At operation, a discrete sub-aortic membrane was found 9 mm below the aortic valve, leaving an aperture of 1 cm diameter and a mildly deformed stenotic aortic valve. We stress the importance of careful pre-operative echocardiographic evaluation of every patient suspected of having any kind of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, even if catheterization data are not contributory.