Ascending Aortic Tear with Severe Aortic Regurgitation Following Rugby Injury

Blunt ascending aortic injuries are rare in clinical practice. Aortic valve regurgitation is an uncommon consequence of closed chest injury. It is caused by either ruptured valve cusp or when subadventitial rupture of the ascending aorta causes prolapse of subjacent valve cusp. Most of the blunt aortic injuries are secondary to high speed motor vehicle accident or falls from significant height. We report on a 33-year-old man who sustained an injury during a rugby game and presented with severe aortic regurgitation secondary to subadventitial rupture of ascending aorta on a background of asymptomatic dilated aortic root. He underwent emergency operation for torrential aortic regurgitation and severe left ventricular failure.