Non-coronary sinus of Valsalva aneurysm diagnosed after a road traffic accident

A 38 year old man with a huge unruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm, complicated with severe valvar aortic regurgitation, is described. The aneurysm was detected by echocardiography in the asymptomatic patient who presented with an intense precordial diastolic rumble after a road traffic accident. The patient had successful surgery for the aneurysm and aortic valve replacement. Possible aetiologies for the aneurysm and a brief revision of clinical aspects and treatment are discussed.


Keywords: sinus of Valsalva aneurysm; valvar disorders; trauma     

38例主动脉窦瘤破裂的外科治疗

目的 :通过研究 38例主动脉窦瘤破裂治疗经过 ,总结主动脉窦瘤破裂外科治疗经验。方法 :1987年 1月至 2 0 0 1年 9月 ,对 38例主动脉窦瘤破裂病人行手术治疗 ,及时准确闭合主动脉窦瘤及矫正合并的心脏畸形。对于合并主动脉瓣关闭不全病例 ,轻度不予处理 ,中度行成形术 ,重度行主动脉瓣置换术。结果 :早期死亡 1例 ,死亡率为 2 6 %。术后随访 2个月～ 14年 ,随访者心脏功能恢复到Ⅰ～Ⅱ级 (NYHA)。结论 :主动脉窦瘤破裂一经诊断 ,应及早手术 ,同时矫正合并的心脏畸形 ,可获得满意的近期和远期效果。     

Quadricuspid Aortic Valve with Sinus of Valsalva Rupture

A 22‐year‐old female with no medical history presented to the emergency room with 2 weeks of rapidly worsening dyspnea on exertion, orthopnea, and cough. On cardiac auscultation, she was noted to have to‐and‐fro murmurs and a continuous murmur with signs of right heart failure. Echocardiographic images obtained showed moderate to severe aortic regurgitation, severe tricuspid regurgitation, and a “windsock” originating in the right coronary sinus of Valsalva and terminating in the right atrium. The aortic valve had four leaflets, with the right leaflet function compromised by the ruptured sinus, causing aortic regurgitation. The patient underwent resection of the sinus aneurysm and aortic valve replacement with a bioprosthetic valve. Quadricuspid aortic valves are uncommon and are rarely associated with sinus of Valsalva aneurysm. The prevalence in the general population, clinical progression, and prognosis of this unique congenital abnormality are reviewed.     

An unusual cause for unruptured sinus of valsalva aneurysm

Sinus of valsalva aneurysm is considered to be one of the rarest complications of inflammatory aortitis. Herewith, we are reporting a young male patient who presented to us with severe aortic regurgitation. On evaluation, he was found to have unruptured sinus of valsalva aneurysm. CT angiography and magnetic resonance imaging have shown value in the diagnosis of sinus of valsalva aneurysm.     

Transesophageal Echocardiography Findings of an Infected Quadricuspid Aortic Valve with an Anomalous Coronary Artery

We describe a patient with severe aortic regurgitation in whom transesophageal echocardiography coupled with cardiac catheterization and pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of a quadricuspid aortic valve, anomalous coronary artery, and aneurysm of the noncoronary sinus of Valsalva.     

84例主动脉窦瘤破裂的外科处理

报告８４例主动脉窦瘤破裂的临床表现和手术方法。其中男性７８例，女性６例，合并畸形３７例，包括室间隔缺损，主动脉瓣关闭不全，动脉导管未闭和右室流出道狭窄。术后死亡５例，死亡率５．９５％。主动脉窦瘤破裂要完善修补瘤体的基底，切口途径以升主动脉切口为好，可防止主动脉瓣扭曲和损伤冠状动脉。当合并心内畸形时须切开相关心腔，以纠治心内畸形。术中良好的心肌保护和主动脉关闭不全的纠正是心脏顺利复跳和防止术后低心输出量综合征的关键。     

Bentall operation in a patient with an anomalous left circumflex artery: Case report and review

Anomalous origin of a left circumflex artery from the right coronary sinus represents a technical challenge in patients who require aortic valve/root procedures. This case report describes a patient who presented with bicuspid aortic valve, anomalous origin of the circumflex artery, severe aortic regurgitation, and aneurysm of the ascending aorta as well as aortic root that was safely managed following the Bentall procedure with the combined button technique.     

Subaortic annular left ventricular aneurysm: an unusual cause of aortic regurgitation

A subaortic left ventricular aneurysm in a 21-year-old white woman is described. The clinical features were those of moderately severe aortic regurgitation, and the chest x-ray film showed cardiac enlargement with a bulge on the left heart border. Angiography confirmed the presence of gross aortic regurgitation and revealed an aneurysm behind the aortic root. At surgery, the aneurysm was found to be located below the aortic valve ring and communicated with the left ventricle through an ostium of 2.5 cm. Aortic valve replacement and closure of the aneurysmal ostium were carried out successfully.     

Incremental Value of Three‐Dimensional Transthoracic Echocardiography in the Assessment of Ruptured Aneurysm of Anterior Mitral Leaflet

The mitral valve aneurysm is a rare complication of infective endocarditis involving mitral or aortic valve. The perforation of the mitral valve aneurysm can lead to significant mitral regurgitation (MR) or thromboembolism, which can cause sudden hemodynamic deterioration. We describe here a case of healed infective endocarditis of the aortic valve with ruptured mitral valve aneurysm that led to severe MR. The aneurysm of the anterior mitral leaflet was diagnosed by two‐dimensional transthoracic echocardiography. In this case, three‐dimensional transthoracic echocardiography demonstrated the detailed morphology of mitral valve aneurysm which resulted in successful surgical repair of the aneurysm.     

Aortic valve cusp aneurysm as a result of blood culture-negative infective endocarditis,interesting echocardiographic and surgical images

Compared to mitral valve aneurysms, aortic valve (AV) aneurysm is a more rare and serious complication of infective endocarditis (IE). Early surgical intervention and valve replacement are required in order to prevent further complications such as embolization and rupture of aneurysm. We described a case of severe aortic regurgitation (AR) as a result of an aortic valve aneurysm in a patient with history of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in whom the hemodialysis catheter had not been changed for a year.     

An orange-shaped aortic root aneurysm in aortitis syndrome with severe aortic regurgitation.

A 57-year-old man, who had undergone aorto-coronary bypass surgery 4 years before when the shape of the ascending aorta had been normal, had a unique orange-shaped aortic root aneurysm associated with severe aortic regurgitation and congestive heart failure. Replacement of the aneurysm and the aortic valve was successfully carried out, and histopathological examination revealed that the aneurysm was caused by aortitis syndrome.     

Perianeurysmal retroperitoneal fibrosis: An unusual cause of renal failure

Retroperitoneal fibrosis causing ureteral obstruction in association with an abdominal aortic aneurysm has been reported infrequently. However, the clinical presentation of patients with this entity and the histopathologic findings at surgery are similar to those in patients with idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis. We describe a patient with perianeurysmal fibrosis and bilateral ureteral obstruction who presented with severe renal failure. The diagnosis of an abdominal aortic aneurysm with perianeurysmal fibrosis was made only at the time of surgery to repair bilateral ureteral obstruction. Previous case reports of perianeurysmal fibrosis are reviewed, and possible pathogenetic mechanisms are discussed. It is important to consider the presence of an occult abdominal aortic aneurysm in patients suspected of having retroperitoneal fibrosis because of the serious prognostic and therapeutic implications.     

Ruptured mitral valve aneurysm: A devastating complication of aortic valve endocarditis

Mitral valve aneurysm is a rare clinical entity that is mostly resulted from infective endocarditis, in particular, aortic valve endocarditis. Once mitral valve aneurysm ruptures and severe mitral regurgitation and hemodynamic instability develop, prompt surgery should be considered. Here we report a patient with ruptured mitral valve aneurysm associated with native aortic valve endocarditis that was improved after a successful mitral and aortic valve replacement surgery associated with antibiotic therapy for 6 weeks.     

Aortic abnormalities in Marfan's syndrome]

Three different forms of aortic lesions in Marfan's Syndrome are demonstrated: 1. moderately severe aortic valve insufficiency due to sinus of Valsalva aneurysm; 2. severe aortic valve insufficiency due to aneurysmal widening of the ascending aorta; 3. an unusually wide dissecting aneurysm extending from the aortic root to the aortic bifurcation. A review of the current literature of the changes in Marfan's Syndrome is given. It is obvious that early diagnosis of the cardiovascular changes is important for the patient's prognosis, allowing the optimal time for surgical intervention to be chosen.     

Regression of inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm after endoluminal treatment with bare-metal Wallstent endoprostheses

Bare-metal Wallstent endoprostheses were used to treat a 60-year-old man who had an inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm, as confirmed by clinical and computed tomographic findings. The patient had concomitant coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and severe iliofemoral disease. Because of high surgical risk due to coexisting disease (including severe peripheral vascular disease), the patient was not a candidate for current endovascular methods or surgical repair. Therefore, we used the novel endovascular approach described. Serial, spiral, computed tomographic scans during a 2-year follow-up period revealed a reduction in the maximal diameter of the abdominal aortic aneurysm from 44 mm to 36 mm. Stabilization of thrombus and regression of the periaortitis were also noted. To our knowledge, this is the 1st reported case of endoluminal therapy with an uncovered stent for an inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm. Bare-metal Wallstent exclusion of inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysms presents a treatment option for patients who are at high risk for surgery and cannot be treated with covered stent-grafts due to severe disease of the iliofemoral vessels.     

Stenosis of the right pulmonary artery: a complication of acute dissecting aneurysm of the ascending aorta

Attention is called to the occurrence of severe obstruction of the right main pulmonary artery as a consequence of acute dissection of the ascending aorta. The pulmonary arterial obstruction appears to have resulted from compression of this artery by an adventitial hematoma which extended from the ascending aorta after medial rupture of the aortic dissecting aneurysm. This complication of acute dissecting aortic aneurysm has not been described previously.     

Turner's syndrome and cardiovascular anomalies: a case report and review of the literature

Turner's syndrome is a genetic disease in which many cardiovascular anomalies have been reported, coarctation of the aorta being the most frequent. The most serious complication that can arise from these abnormalities is aortic dissection. The authors present an unusual case of Turner's syndrome with an aortic sinus aneurysm and severe aortic insufficiency in the absence of coarctation of the aorta. The various cardiovascular anomalies seen in Turner's syndrome, such as coarctation of the aorta, bicuspid aortic valve, aortic dissection, aortic sinus aneurysm and ascending aorta aneurysm, can best be understood on a common basis of congenital structural abnormalities involving the aorta and the aortic valve. The only evidence available for such an abnormality is the presence of cystic medial necrosis in the affected vascular tissues.     

Off-pump ascending to descending aorta bypass grafting with descending aneurysm exclusion

We performed an ascending to descending aorta bypass grafting with exclusion of the descending thoracic aortic aneurysm through a median sternotomy incision without cardiopulmonary bypass in a patient with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The patient was a 75-year-old man who had undergone endovascular stent-graft placement for a descending thoracic aortic aneurysm. The operation became necessary because the aneurysm continued to expand without evidence of endoleak. The postoperative course was uneventful, and without respiratory morbidity.     

Antegradely insertable aortic balloon occlusion catheter for aortic arch repair

 We have developed an antegradely insertable aortic balloon occlusion catheter for aortic arch repair, and review our experiences of using it. The purpose of the present study was to examine the usefulness of the balloon for surgical treatment of aortic arch aneurysm. In 30 patients with aortic arch aneurysm, including 22 with a non-ruptured and 8 with a ruptured aneurysm, the catheter was antegradely inserted into the descending thoracic aorta through the aortic arch or the aneurysm without opening the pleural space after establishing antegrade selective cerebral perfusion and obtaining cardiac arrest. During distal anastomosis, the catheter occluded the aorta with continuous perfusion of the lower half of the body through an arterial cannula inserted into the femoral artery. Among the patients with a nonruptured aneurysm, two deaths (9.1%) occurred because of aorto-broncho-esophageal fistulae or cardiac arrest due to severe asthma attack within 30 days, and the other three hospital deaths were due to aspiration pneumonia, multiple organ failure with preoperative renal dysfunction, or low cardiac output syndrome due to perioperative myocardial infarction. Among the patients with a ruptured aneurysm, three deaths (37.5%) were due to acute myocardial infarction, respiratory failure, or intractable arrhythmia within 30 days, and another hospital death was caused by mediastinitis. No paraplegia was caused in any patient excluding one of the patients with a ruptured aneurysm who could not be weaned from the extracorporeal circulation due to perioperative myocardial infarction. There was no early postoperative serious visceral organ dysfunction except for two patients with postoperative low cardiac output syndrome or preoperative severe renal dysfunction. This catheter was effective in protecting the visceral organs and the spinal cord in the repair of an aortic arch aneurysm. Received: March 7, 2002 / Accepted: November 29, 2002     

Painless left hemorrhagic pleural effusion: An unusual presentation of dissecting ascending aortic aneurysm

Aortic dissection is a catastrophic event that is commonly associated with severe pain, massive hemorrhage, and high mortality. In this report, we present the case of a 31-year-old man who presented with painless, hemorrhagic left pleural effusion. Further investigation revealed a 9-cm dissecting ascending aortic aneurysm that was thought to be due to a congenitally bicuspid aortic valve. We suggest that ascending aortic aneurysm be included in the differential diagnosis of hemorrhagic pleural effusion, even in the absence of the classic features of aortic dissection, such as chest pain, advanced age, or history of hypertension.