Aneurysms of sinus of Valsalva: two-dimensional echocardiographic diagnosis and recognition of rupture into the right heart cavities

The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of echocardiography in the diagnosis of sinus of Valsalva aneurysms projecting toward the right heart cavities. Three patients who had a ruptured aneurysm of a sinus of Valsalva diagnosed by echocardiography and confirmed by catheterization underwent cardiac surgery. In two patients, the aneurysm originated from the right coronary sinus and had perforated into either the inflow or outflow tract of the right ventricle. In the third patient, the aneurysm, which originated from the noncoronary sinus, ruptured into the atrium. A fourth patient was also investigated and had an unruptured aneurysm of the right coronary sinus projecting into the right ventricular outflow tract. M-mode, two-dimensional and contrast echocardiographic studies were performed before cardiac catheterization in all patients and after surgery in three patients. M-mode echocardiography was useful only when the aneurysm had an anterior projection, whether or not the aneurysm was ruptured. Conversely, two-dimensional echocardiography was always able to identify the aneurysmal sac which appeared as an abnormal circular thin-walled structure protruding into the right heart cavities. By using multiple views, it was possible to investigate the whole abnormal structure and locate the sinus from which the aneurysm originated. The use of the echo contrast technique allowed more precise definition of the aneurysmal sac and diagnosis of a left to right shunt by demonstrating a negative contrast image in the right cavities. On the other hand, no negative contrast image was recorded in the patient with an unruptured aneurysm or in the two instances of a successful surgically reconstructed aorta.     

Ruptured aneurysm of the sinus of valsalva with single coronary artery

This paper will report the case of a patient with an aneurysm of Valsalva's sinus accompanied by single coronary artery (the presence of only a single ostium of the coronary arteries), who survived for 14 years, under conservative treatment, after a rupture of the aneurysm. In this patient the aneurysm of Valsalva's sinus ruptured from the right coronary sinus into the right ventricular outflow tract. The single coronary artery originated from the left coronary sinus, and the right coronary artery branched from the left main trunk and ran dorsally to the aorta. No case of ruptured aneurysm of Valsalva's sinus accompanied by a single coronary artery has been reported in the literature. After 14 years of conservative treatment, the patient was surgically treated by direct suture of the ruptured aneurysm and by aortic valve replacement. The postoperative course was uneventful.     

Real-time observation of ruptured right sinus of Valsalva aneurysm by high speed ultrasono-cardiotomography. Report of a case.

A two-dimensional echocardiographic manifestation of a ruptured right sinus of Valsalva aneurysm is described in this case report. The ultrasono-cardiotomograms demonstrated the aneurysm cut longitudinally and protruding into the outflow tract of the right ventricle. The configuration of the aneurysm was consistent with the contrast medium-filled sinus demonstrated by angiocardiography. In systole, the aneurysmal sinus moved anteroinferiorly together with the aortic wall. The echocardiogram revealed an abnormal two-layered horizontal echo in the right ventricle which showed the aneurysm when the ultrasonic beam passed through the interventricular septum near the aortic root and mitral leaflets. During the operation, the protruding sinus and a small interventricular septal defect in the membranous septum under it were observed through the opened right ventricle. After the closure of the aneurysm, the two-dimensional echocardiogram no longer showed an abnormal configuration.     

Aortic sinus of Valsalva aneurysms simulating primary right-sided valvular heart disease.

While acute regurgitation is the most common valvular lesion associated with aortic sinus of Valsalva aneurysms, this report describes the pathological findings in five patients in whom primary right-sided valve dysfunction was simulated by sinus of Valsalva aneurysms. In two patients aneurysms of the noncoronary sinus projected into the right atrium at the level of the tricuspid valve and caused tricuspid incomptence. In three patients aneurysms of the right sinus of Valsalva projected into the right ventricle immediately below the pulmonic valve and caused pulmonary outflow tract obstruction. In only one of these patients was the aneurysm perforated at necropsy. Although valvular dysfunction was evident clinically, in none was there a clinical suspicion of a sinus of Valsalva aneurysm. In addition to valvular dysfunction, two patients had conduction disturbances and two, right coronary arterial occlusions found to be the result of aneurysms. The risks of valve dysfunction, arrythmias, aneurysm rupture, and sudden death and the ability to correct this lesion surgically make it especially important to consider aortic sinus of Valsalva aneurysm as a cause of obscure right-sided valvular disease.     

A case of sinus of Valsalva-right ventricle fistula without a typical aneurysm, and a single origin of the coronary arteries

Few previous reports have described a sinus of Valsalva fistula without an aneurysm in Japanese patients. A single origin of the coronary arteries is a rare coronary anomaly. We describe a 75-year-old woman with a single origin of the coronary arteries and a sinus of Valsalva fistula without a typical aneurysm. Echocardiography showed turbulent flow from the right coronary sinus of Valsalva to the right ventricle throughout the cardiac cycle. Aortography confirmed the presence of a right coronary sinus of Valsalva-right ventricle shunt jet. Echocardiography and aortography demonstrated that there was no deformity of the sinus of Valsalva. Cardiac catheterization revealed that the left-to-right shunt rate was 29% and the Qp/Qs was 1.41. Aortography and coronary angiography did not identify a right coronary artery originating from the right sinus of Valsalva. Coronary angiography revealed that the right coronary artery arose from the proximal part of the left anterior descending artery and did not detect significant organic stenosis of the coronary artery. She was diagnosed as having a sinus of Valsalva to right ventricle fistula without an aneurysm, and a single origin of the coronary arteries.     

Unruptured Sinus of Valsalva Aneurysm with Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction and Supracristal Ventricular Septal Defect: A Rare Case

Unruptured right sinus of Valsalva aneurysm that causes severe obstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract is extremely rare. We describe the case of a 47-year-old woman who presented with exertional dyspnea. Upon investigation, we discovered an unruptured right sinus of Valsalva aneurysm with associated right ventricular outflow tract obstruction and a supracristal ventricular septal defect. To our knowledge, only 2 such cases have previously been reported in the medical literature.Although treatment of unruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm remains debatable, surgery should be considered for extremely large aneurysms or for progressive enlargement of the aneurysm on serial evaluation. Surgery was undertaken in our patient because there was clear evidence of right ventricular outflow tract obstruction, right-sided heart dilation, and associated exertional dyspnea.     

Unruptured aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva: a potential source of cerebrovascular embolism.

An unruptured aneurysm of the right sinus of Valsalva with intraluminal thrombus that displaced the right coronary artery ostium was diagnosed in a 30 year old Omani man who was investigated for uncontrolled grand mal epilepsy and residual left hemiparesis caused by occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery. Surgical intra-aortic closure of the aneurysm, which necessitated a saphenous vein graft to the right coronary artery, was successful. An aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva is an unusual cause of a thromboembolic cerebrovascular accident.     

Cross-sectional echocardiographic diagnosis of discrete subaortic stenosis, ruptured congenital aneurysm of the right sinus of Valsalva, unruptured aneurysm of non-coronary sinus and a rudimentary left aortic leaflet

A 7-year-old asymptomatic male child was found to have a shelf-like subaortic stenosis, congenital aneurysm of the right sinus of Valsalva communicating with the right ventricular outflow tract, an unruptured aneurysm of the non-coronary sinus and a small left aortic sinus with a rudimentary valvar leaflet causing moderate aortic regurgitation. The diagnosis was made by cross-sectional and Doppler echocardiography and confirmed by cineangiocardiography.     

Isolated unruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm producing right ventricular outflow obstruction

An unusual case of right ventricular outflow obstruction and right heart failure due to an isolated unruptured congenital sinus of Valsalva aneurysm originating from the right coronary sinus in a 75-year-old-man is described. The diagnosis was made by two-dimensional echocardiography and cardiac catheterization. Successful surgical resection of the aneurysm resulted in dramatic symptomatic improvement.     

Unruptured congenital aneurysm of the sinus of valsalva presenting with pulmonary stenosis

Congenital aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva is a rare cardiovascular anomaly. It is usually silent until rupture occurs. The natural history of unruptured aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva is still not clear, and the therapeutic strategy is uncertain. Here we reported a case of unruptured aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva which was correctly diagnosed before invasive diagnostic procedures. A 30-year-old female noted mild palpitation and dyspnea for 1 month. Physically, a grade 3/6 systolic ejection murmur at upper left sternal border was detected. Echocardiography revealed dilatation and irregular protrusion of the right sinus of Valsalva encroaching on right ventricular outflow tract to cause obstruction. With these findings, unruptured aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva with pulmonary stenosis was diagnosed. Cardiac catheterization and angiography confirmed the diagnosis. The aneurysm was repaired with a Dacron patch with good results. It is concluded that sinus of Valsalva aneurysm can be diagnosed by echocardiography before its rupture so as to render a proper management for this potentially life-threatening anomaly. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Intervent. 46:210–213, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Unruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysms manifesting as complete heart block

We present a patient with bilateral unruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysms involving both the left and right coronary sinuses. The large left sinus aneurysm protruded into the left atrium and the right sinus aneurysm extended into the interventricular septum, producing a transient complete heart block.     

经导管封堵主动脉窦瘤破口的临床评价

目的 探讨经导管封堵主动脉窦瘤破裂的临床效果.方法 8例患者,年龄17～44岁.其中5例为主动脉右冠状动脉窦瘤破裂入右心室,破口直径2.5～13 mm;2例为主动脉右冠状动脉窦瘤破裂入右心房,破口直径4～8 mm;1例为主动脉无冠状动脉窦瘤破裂入右心室,破口直径6 mm.7例为先天性,1例为获得性（医源性）.通过建立股动脉-主动脉窦瘤破口-右心室（或右心房）-右心房-股静脉的轨道,透视下经股静脉置入合适的动脉导管未闭封堵器,所选择的封堵器直径较破口大（2～5 mm）.结果 5例患者封堵成功,无并发症发生.随访2～4年,5例患者症状和体征均消失,超声证实封堵器形态位置良好,无残余分流、栓塞、细菌性心内膜炎、主动脉瓣反流等发生.1例封堵后1周封堵器脱落,脱入右下肺动脉,转外科手术取出封堵器同时行主动脉窦瘤修补.1例因破口大置入封堵器后影响右冠状动脉开口,放弃介入治疗转外科手术治疗.1例置入封堵器后因主动脉瓣反流,放弃封堵治疗继续观察.结论 术前选择合适的患者,经导管主动脉窦瘤破口封堵术为一种微创、安全和有效的治疗方法.其中、远期疗效良好,临床应用前景较好.     

Ruptured non-coronary sinus of Valsalva aneurysm into the right atrium in 44-year-old patient

We hereby present a case report of ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm into the right atrium in 44-year-old patient with 8-month progressive exertional dyspnoea, occasional palpitations and oedema of lower extremities. A massive left-to-right shunt between the outflow tract of the left ventricle and right atrium was discovered from the echocardiogram examination. The patient was indicated for surgery, during which it was discovered a defect in the area of the non-coronary sinus extending into the right atrium, calcifications in the annulus of the congenitally bicuspid aortic valve, without signs of endocarditis present, abundant tissue was excised from the right atrium which had originally been an aneurysm of the non-coronary sinus of the aortic root. Sinus of Valsalva aneurysm is a very rare pathology which is generally asymptomatic. In this case it manifested through a rupture into the right atrium and symptomatology of right-sided heart failure. Surgery was the only possible treatment.     

Huge calcified aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva

Aneurysms of the sinus of Valsalva often remain undiagnosed until they rupture. A 61-year-old man had a huge, heavily calcified unruptured aneurysm, originating from the right sinus of Valsalva, detected incidentally on a chest radiograph taken for the diagnosis of cardiomegaly. Two-dimensional echocardiography revealed pericardial effusion with a huge calcified mass compressing the right ventricular outflow tract. The Doppler color-flow echocardiogram showed blood flow from the aortic root into the aneurysm. A chest computed tomographic scan revealed a large thrombosed aneurysm originating from the aortic root and measuring 10x10 cm. After pericardiocentesis, cardiac catheterization was performed, which showed that the right ventricular systolic pressure had elevated to 80 mmHg. Aortic root aortography demonstrated a huge unruptured calcified aneurysm in the sinus of Valsalva arising from the right coronary sinus. The patient underwent surgical correction to prevent aneurysmal rupture and to relieve the right ventricular outflow obstruction.     

Ruptured aneurysm of the right sinus of valsalva associated with a ventricular septal defect and an anomalous coronary artery

Aneurysms of the sinus of Valsalva are extremely rare. Ruptured aneurysms of the sinus of Valsalva are frequently associated with other congenital defects, particularly with ventricular septal defect, aortic valve regurgitation, and bicuspid aortic valve. We describe the case of a 26-year-old man who had a ruptured aneurysm of the right coronary sinus, a ventricular septal defect, and an anomalous origin of the right coronary artery. Successful surgical correction of the aneurysm and ventricular septal defect was performed with patch repair and aortic valve replacement. A review of the English-language medical literature revealed only 1 other case of a sinus of Valsalva aneurysm associated with a ventricular septal defect and an anomalous coronary artery. Previously published reports of the coexistence of a single coronary artery with a sinus of Valsalva aneurysm or with a ventricular septal defect, and their management, are discussed herein.     

Diagnostic paradox: Ruptured aneurysm of sinus of Valsalva simulating tricuspid valve endocarditis

Rupture of aneurysm of sinus of Valsalva into the right atrium mimicking tricuspid valve endocarditis is a rare presentation. We review a case of spontaneous rupture of aneurysm of sinus of Valsalva into the right atrium presenting as a murmur. Transthoracic echocardiogram showed a mobile mass that appeared to be attached to the tricuspid valve leaflet with moderate tricuspid regurgitation suggestive of tricuspid valve endocarditis. The diagnosis was confirmed as spontaneous rupture of noncoronary sinus in to the right atrium by transesophageal echocardiogram. Patient recovered completely after surgical repair.     

Multiplane transesophageal echocardiography in the preoperative evaluation of the sinus of Valsalva fistula to right chambers]

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm to right cardiac chambers is an uncommon lesion in Western countries. The prognosis is usually serious unless the condition is promptly treated surgically. For this reason an accurate anatomical and functional evaluation is necessary. The main purpose of this report is to compare the usefulness of multiplane transesophageal echocardiography with transthoracic echocardiography and angiocardiography in the preoperative evaluation of ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm to right chambers. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Since January 1990, 9 patients (mean age 36,3 18 yr, 6 males) with ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm to right chambers were studied. The pathogenesis was congenital aneurysm in 6 patients, aortic prosthesis endocarditis in one and two cases of iatrogenia: during a percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty and after cardiac surgery. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed in all cases, transesophageal echocardiography in 7 and angiocardiography in 8. Two patients died before surgery, and 7 were successfully operated on. RESULTS: Transesophageal echocardiography was more useful when compared to transthoracic echocardiography and angiocardiography in detecting: a) the fistula; b) the sinus involved; c) the right chamber affected; d) congenital aneurysms morphology and size; e) aneurysm prolapse through a ventricular septal defect, y f) the identification of other cardiac congenital or acquired anomalies. CONCLUSIONS: Multiplane TEE is the most accurate tool in the preoperative evaluation of ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm to right chambers.     

Ruptured aneurysms of the aortic sinus of Valsalva.

Aneurysms of the aortic sinus of Valsalva (ASV) are uncommon. This study describes eight cases of ruptured aneurysms of the congenital variety observed over a 10-year period in Singapore. Although ASV is classically diagnosed at the time of rupture, only one patient in this series presented with acute chest pain and dyspnea. All eight patients had continuous murmurs. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed by cardiac catheterization and angiography in eight patients and by thoracotomy in six. In six patients, the aneurysm had ruptured into the right ventricle and in two into the right atrium. In the five patients where the site of the aneurysm could be definitely determined, four arose from the right coronary and one from the noncoronary sinus. This marked preponderance of right coronary sinus over noncoronary sinus aneurysm in Singapore is more in accordance with the Japanese rather than the Western experience. A systolic gradient due to the aneurysm pressing on the right ventricular outflow tract was established in four patients during cardiac catheterization and angiography and confirmed in three patients at thoracotomy. Six patients underwent operation and were alive and well from 7 months to 3 years later.     

彩色多普勒超声在诊断主动脉窦瘤破裂中的应用

目的:探讨经胸及经食道彩色多普勒超声心动图在诊断主动脉窦瘤破裂的应用价值。方法:用彩色多普勒超声心动图检查有级以上心脏杂音,诊断为主动脉窦瘤破裂合并室间隔缺损(VSD)及主动脉瓣关闭不全的患者,共16例。结果:16例主动脉窦瘤破裂患者中,右冠窦瘤破裂13例,无冠窦瘤破裂3例,合并室间隔缺损9例,合并主动脉瓣脱垂3例,合并肺动脉瓣狭窄及动脉导管未闭各1例。结论:彩色多普勒超声心动图可以直观地显示主动脉窦瘤的有无及其破裂口的大小和数目,还可以对主动脉窦瘤破裂合并心脏畸形的类型作出诊断,很有意义。     

Unruptured aneurysm of the right sinus of Valsalva: a case report

A previously healthy and asymptomatic 45-year-old woman was referred for evaluation of a heart murmur and an unusual dilatation in the aortic root. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and cardiac catheterization revealed an aneurysm with a maximum diameter of 6.0 cm in the right sinus of Valsalva. Aortic regurgitation and stenosis at the right ventricle outflow tract were associated with the aneurysm. Surgery and histological study demonstrated that the sinus of Valsalva aneurysm was enormously dilated with idiopathic degenerative change in the aortic media. The aneurysm was tremendously large compared to any previously reported. Decrease in pressure load during diastole caused by aortic regurgitation probably resulted in the growth of this huge aneurysm without rupture.