Aortic Pseudocoarctation Associated With a Stenotic Congenitally Bicuspid Aortic Valve

The diagnosis of aortic coarctation is when a high-velocity Doppler jet is seen in the proximal descending aorta. Such a jet was seen in a 23-year-old man with bicuspid aortic valve complicated by severe aortic insufficiency in the presence of a normal aorta with slight tapering confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging. After aortic replacement, the gradient was no longer seen. In conclusion, high flow in the aorta induced by large regurgitant volumes can result in the appearance of “relative stenosis” or pseudocoarctation.