Aortic elongation induced aortic stenosis (AEAS).

We present a case of a 71-year-old man who presented with aortic stenosis. This was pseudo-aortic obstruction resulting from the mitral valve subvalvular apparatus impacting into a normal aortic valve as a result of elongation of the ascending aorta. To place this case in context, we also provide a review of left ventricular outflow obstruction with an emphasis on subvalvular stenosis.

Congenital defects of the pericardium.

Congenital defects of the pericardium are rare, but when they are reported they are frequently associated with other cardiac lesions. We describe a case of partial pericardial defect found incidentally at surgery for closure of an ostium primum atrial septal defect. Proposed mechanisms of pericardial defect development are discussed and we suggest that associations with congenital and acquired heart disease are mostly circumstantial.