Fatal Infant Myocardial Infarction Caused by Ball-IN-Valve Mechanism from a Dysplastic Aortic Valve

BackgroundAcute myocardial infarction (AMI) can occur in infants. Early identification of AMI can allow for specific therapies aimed at improving patient outcomes.ObjectiveThis article describes a case of an infant with AMI caused by a previously unreported mechanism and reviews diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for dealing with this rare disease.Case ReportWe present a case of a 5-week-old infant with a fatal AMI due to a pedunculated nodule from a dysplastic aortic valve leaflet creating a ball-in-valve mechanism and occluding the left main coronary artery.ConclusionAMI is an important diagnostic consideration in any infant presenting with signs of unexplained cardiogenic shock. Practitioners who care for children should be aware of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for AMI in infants.