Congenital aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva dissecting into the interventricular septum

The case of a 57-year-old man with a congenital aneurysm of the right sinus of Valsalva dissecting into the interventricular septum is presented. The patient had a previous heart block and aortic insufficiency. The diagnosis was made by echocardiography and cardiac catheterization. Open-heart surgery was performed, closing the entrance of the aneurysm and replacing the aortic valve. The patient survived surgery and is in New York Heart Association functional class II 3 years after surgical repair. Other cases of this uncommon congenital heart disease are reviewed.     

室间隔夹层瘤的手术治疗

目的 介绍室间陕夹层瘤这种临床罕见的心脏病及其治疗经验。方法 １９９２－１９９８年,收治不同原因的室间隔夹层瘤４例,其中２例与佛氏窦瘤有关,１例可能为外伤所臻,另１例为主动脉右窦底部穿孔约２ｃｍ大小,形成室间隔夹层瘤。均进行室间隔夹层瘤的处理,同时行主动脉替换术３例,右窦穿孔修补１例。结果 ２例一次手术成功,另２例为再手术,疗效满意。     

Aortic valve-sparing operation and a total arch replacement by an elephant trunk method for Marfan’s syndrome with aortic regurgitation and a DeBakey type IIIb dissection

A 35 year-old male with Marfan's syndrome was referred with a fortuitous echographic finding of an abdominal aorta flap. Transthoracic echocardiography showed moderate aortic regurgitation and an aneurysm in the sinus of Valsalva. Computed tomography demonstrated an aneurysm in the sinus of Valsalva 60 mm in size and a DeBakey type IIIb dissection extending from the left subclavian artery to the right common iliac artery. An aortic valve-sparing operation (reimplantation), total aortic arch replacement and the elephant trunk method were used in this patient. An aortic valve-sparing operation is preferable because the patient is young, and has no need for anticoagulant therapy after surgery. The extent of the aortic reconstruction, including the intact aortic arch, was appropriate to prohibit future dilatation of the aortic arch and retrograde dissection from a DeBakey type IIIb dissection. (Jpn J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2005;53: 657–660)     

Surgical repair of postoperative left sinus of Valsalva aneurysm dissecting into the interventricular septum

We describe the dissection of the interventricular septum by unruptured aneurysm of the left sinus of Valsalva in a patient who had undergone aortic valve replacement for rheumatic aortic valve insufficiency 5 years previously. The patient had worn a permanent pacemaker for 1 year to manage complete atrioventricular block. Sufficient information was provided by echocardiography and aortography to confirm the diagnosis. Operative correction consisted of obliteration of the aneurysm sac and closure of the outward orifice with a Dacron patch from the side of the aortic sinus.     

Surgical repair of ruptured aortic sinus of Valsalva aneurysm

Surgical repair of ruptured aortic sinus of Valsalva aneurysm was performed on six patients. The NYHA functional class was I in one case, II in three and III in two cases. All aneurysms had ruptured into the right atrium. Three originated from the right, and three from the non-coronary aortic sinus of Valsalva. The preoperative shunt was 55-200% (mean 118%) of the peripheral cardiac output. At aneurysmal repair, closure of secundum-type atrial septal defect was performed in one case and insertion of a St Jude Medical aortic valve in another. There were no perioperative deaths. Five patients were asymptomatic in the follow-up period (5 months-17 years). One patient died of cardiomyopathy 11 years postoperatively. The long-term results after surgical repair of ruptured aortic sinus of Valsalva aneurysm thus were good, and early operation is recommended in order to avoid congestive heart failure.     

A case report of surgical repair of ruptured aneurysm of sinus valsalva in aged (84 years old)]

An 84-year-old man with ruptured aneurysm of Valsalva sinus was operated. Diagnosis was made by two dimensional echocardiography, cardiac catheterization, and cardiac angiography. A aneurysm was found at the right-coronary sinus region, and ruptured into the right ventricle. The ruptured aneurysm of sinus Valsalva was repaired with direct closure and Woven patch from inside the right ventricle through the pulmonary valve. This case was defined as congenital because there was no sign of inflammatory or atherosclerotic changes in the aorta, aortic valve and aneurysm. The ruptured aneurysm of sinus Valsalva is very rare in aged patients. As far as we know, this patient is one of the oldest cases who underwent successful surgical repair in this country.     

室间隔夹层瘤的超声诊断(附4例报告)

目的 总结室间隔夹层瘤的超声心动图诊断及临床应用价值。方法1985～2005年超声诊断罕见的室间隔夹层瘤4例。超声主要取左室长轴、四腔心、五腔心、大动脉短轴及非标准切面，观察主动脉窦的形态及结构：如扩张窦瘤的大小、窦壁厚度、窦瘤破口的部位、窦瘤破口与室间隔之间的关系，主动脉窦瘤与室间隔夹层瘤之间交通口的大小，测量形成室间隔夹层瘤的大小及夹层瘤左、右室面的厚度，结合彩色多普勒观察心动周期夹层瘤与主动脉窦瘤血流动态变化，频谱多普勒测量窦瘤与室间隔夹层瘤之间的血流速度。结果4例室间隔夹层瘤均为主动脉右窦破人室间隔基底段，且均行手术治疗证实超声诊断。结论超声心动图对室间隔夹层瘤可直接做出诊断，超声诊断价值在于早发现、早诊断、及早治疗，并可为外科选择手术方式提供重要的有价值的依据。     

Ruptured aneurysms of the sinus of Valsalva.

From 1969 to 1989, 15 patients with an aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva underwent operative correction. This represents 0.23% of 6515 cardiac operations with cardiopulmonary bypass during that time. There were 8 males and 7 females ranging in age from 15 to 54 years (mean 35.8 years). Symptoms of congestive heart failure, fatigue and palpitation were common. All patients underwent cardiac catheterization including aortography. Associated lesions included aortic valve regurgitation in 6 patients and a ventricular septal defect in 3 patients. The following connections occurred: right coronary sinus to right ventricle (8 patients), right coronary sinus to both right atrium and right ventricle (1 patient), and noncoronary sinus to right atrium (6 patients). The aneurysm was repaired via aortotomy or through the chamber into which it emptied. The aortic valve was replaced in 2 patients. There were no early or late postoperative deaths. Fourteen patients were in NYHA functional class I at late follow-up (range 0.5 to 20.5 years, mean 8.7 years). There have been no recurrences. Our experience supports the concept that early surgical intervention in patients with ruptured aneurysms of the sinus of Valsalva is justified.     

Adult aortic coarctation discovered incidentally after the rupture of sinus of Valsalva aneurysm: combined surgical and interventional approach

Combination of ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm (SVA), and a coexisting asymptomatic adult aortic isthmic coarctation is extremely rare. The timing and sequence of surgical and/or interventional repair of these two pathologies are controversial. We present a case of a 37-year-old male who was admitted to our department because of severe acute congestive heart failure and signs of ruptured aneurysm of the SV into the right ventricle. Transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography confirmed the communication between an important right coronary SVA and right ventricle, bicuspid aortic valve, mild aortic regurgitation, and revealed severe aortic coarctation. Because of the severe dilation of right sinus of Valsalva a surgical repair of the ruptured aneurysm was performed. Aortic coarctation was treated four weeks later by a percutaneous stent-graft implantation. This case report supports the concept that hybrid approach is feasible in patients with ruptured SVA and aortic coarctation in adulthood.     

Simultaneous Aortic and Tricuspid Valve Endocarditis due to Complication of Sinus of Valsalva Rupture

We experienced a case of ruptured aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva, and this resulted in simultaneous aortic and tricuspid valve endocarditis through a shunt. The echocardiography showed a ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm to the right atrium with a shunt. The aortic non-coronary cusp was fibro-thickened with vegetation. Vegetations of the septal leaflet and the anterior leaflet of the tricuspid valve were also found. The blood culture grew Enterococcus garllinarum. We replaced both tricuspid and aortic valve with successful surgical result.     

主动脉窦瘤破裂的外科治疗及远期疗效

目的 总结主动脉窦瘤破裂的临床特点及外科疗效,讨论对合并感染性心内膜炎及主动脉瓣关闭不全患者的处理.方法 回顾性分析1997年9月至2007年9月43例主动脉窦瘤破裂患者的临床资料.其中男性32例,女性11例;年龄11～50岁,平均年龄(29.0±11.5)岁.破口源于右冠状动脉窦34例,无冠状动脉窦9例.破入有心室30例,右心房8例,右心室及右心房3例,破人室间隔2例.合并室间隔缺损26例,主动脉瓣关闭不全15例,感染性心内膜炎8例,三尖瓣反流6例,房间隔缺损4例,二尖瓣反流2例,动脉导管未闭2例,肺动脉赘牛物1例.全部患者于心肺转流下行窦瘤修补及合并畸形矫治术.结果 无围手术期死亡.并发症5例,包括急性左心功能衰竭3例,Ⅲ度房室传导阻滞2例.随访6～120个月,平均(68.0±17.7)个月;2例分别于术后第6、8年行主动脉瓣置换术,2例进展为Ⅱ级主动脉瓣父闭小全.结论 主动脉窦瘤破裂外科治疗可获得满意效果.对合并主动脉瓣关闭小全及感染性心内膜炎的患者应早期手术,积极防治术后并发症并长期随访.     

A case of intraventricular septum dissection presenting with aneurysmal dilatation through the outflow track of the left ventricle

A dissecting aneurysm of the intraventricular septum is an extremely rare entity. Most of these aneurysms originate from the right sinus of Valsalva and are believed to result from rupture of a Valsalva sinus aneurysm. Such cases may present with aortic insufficiency, rhythm disorders, ventriculo-septal ischemia and infectious endocarditis. In this article, we present a patient who underwent surgical intervention with a diagnosis of intraventricular septal cyst (hydatid cyst) leading to both a flow gradient through the left ventricle outflow track and dysrhythmia, without any evident dilatation or aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva.     

Ascending aortic aneurysm following aortico-ventricular tunnel repair

Aortico-left ventricular tunnel is a very rare congenital anomaly. An 18-year-old boy had undergone tunnel closure at 3 years of age. A moderate degree of aortic regurgitation remained postoperatively. Seven years later, aortic valve replacement for aortic regurgitation was performed. Eight years later, the ascending aortic aneurysm had grown to 63 mm in diameter. This dilatation became an operative indication. Ascending aortic replacement was performed with a Dacron graft. Pathological examination of the resected aortic wall revealed cystic medial degeneration. We report a rare case of ascending aortic aneurysm following surgical repair of the aortico-left ventricular tunnel and aortic valve replacement. (Jpn J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2006; 54:182-184)     

Intraoperative two-dimensional echocardiography in complicated infective endocarditis of the aortic valve

Six patients with complicated native and prosthetic aortic valve endocarditis were operated on. The data from cineangiocardiography and from precordial and intraoperative two-dimensional echocardiography were compared with the surgical findings. Surgical inspection revealed a mycotic aneurysm in six patients. In addition, a fistulous connection to the right atrium, an abscess in the interventricular septum, and mitral valve endocarditis were found in one of the patients. The pathologic conditions disclosed during the operation were correctly visualized with two-dimensional epicardial echocardiography, done before cardiopulmonary bypass. Cineangiography provided this information in one patient, and precordial two-dimensional echocardiographic analysis was correct in two patients. Thus, intraoperative two-dimensional echocardiography provides detailed information in complicated native and prosthetic aortic valve endocarditis that is of importance in the surgical management.     

Ruptured aneurysms of the sinus of Valsalva in Oriental patients

Between 1964 and 1987, a total of 57 cases of ruptured aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva underwent surgical correction at the National Taiwan University Hospital. This represents 0.96% of all cardiac operations. The origin of ruptured aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva was the right coronary sinus in 46, the noncoronary sinus in nine, and the left coronary sinus in two. The aneurysms ruptured into the right ventricle in 44, into the right atrium in 11, into the left ventricle in one, and into both the right ventricle and right atrium in one. Associated congenital cardiac anomalies included ventricular septal defect in 30 patients, aortic regurgitation in 20, and infundibular pulmonic stenosis and coarctation of the aorta in one each. Operative death occurred in two patients (3.5%) and one patient had a successful reoperation. The remainder did well following surgery. To compare the differences between Oriental and Western countries in ruptured aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva, 361 cases (195 Oriental patients versus 166 Western) were collected from the literature. Analyses of these cases revealed that ruptured aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva in Oriental patients compared with Western series is characterized by a higher incidence (5 times), more aneurysms originating from the right coronary sinus (87.9% versus 63.6%), more aneurysm rupturing into the right ventricle (84.2% versus 56.6%), a higher incidence of association with ventricular septal defect (mainly supracristal) (59.0% versus 34.6%), less incidence of association with other congenital cardiac abnormalities (4.1% versus 21.5%), very few instances of rupturing into cardiac chambers other than the right ventricle and right atrium, and less incidence of occurrence in the extremities of ages (the youngest was 7 years in Oriental patients versus 11 months in the Western series). In other words, ruptured aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva in Oriental patients is more or less a simple and uniform disease entity in contrast to the more diverse and protean pathologic profiles encountered in Western series. However, both Oriental patient and Western patient series have similar incidences of combination with aortic regurgitation (24.6% versus 20.0%), with 40.4% of Oriental patients and 60.6% of Western patients presenting with intact ventricular septum. Therefore the pathogenetic mechanisms of ruptured aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva may at the same time contribute to the development of aortic regurgitation.     

室上嵴上室间隔缺损的外科治疗

本文报道５６例室上嵴上室间隔缺损的外科治疗。男３４例，女２２例，年龄３～３９岁。１９例合并主动脉瓣叶脱垂、主动脉瓣关闭不全或佛氏窦瘤破裂。经右房切口修补室缺２例，右室漏斗切口４７例，肺动脉切９７例。直接修补缺损２６例，补片修补３０例。主动脉瓣成形术１例，主动脉瓣置换术５例。５４例全愈出院，死亡２例。作者认为室上嵴上空间隔缺损应尽早手术，以免并发主动脉瓣损害和佛氏窦瘤破裂；中度主动脉瓣关闭不全可行主动脉瓣成形术，采用肺动脉切口优于右室漏斗部切口。     

Multisaccular aneurysm developing in association with abdominal aortic coarctation: report of a surgical case.

This paper reports a rare case of a 65-year-old woman diagnosed with a multisaccular, abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), 35 mm in diameter, which was revealed developing just distal to an abdominal aortic coarctation (AAC), with a 20 mmHg pressure gradient. The patient underwent corrective surgery for both lesions, with success. Intraoperatively, the aneurysm wall was found to be so thin and transparent that the inner blood turbulence could be seen, and it appeared highly susceptible to rupture. When a saccular, thin-walled AAA develops in association with AAC, early surgical intervention is mandatory regardless of the size of the aneurysm. (Ann Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2003; 9: 326-9)     

Sinus of Valsalva Aneurysms: 20 Years' Experience

A bstract Background : Aneurysms of sinus of Valsalva are rare. Here, we analyze retrospectively patients operated on at our center during the last 20 years. Patients and Methods : One hundred four cases of congential aneurysm of sinus of Valsalva were operated upon between January 1977 and April 1996. Only 12 aneurysms were unruptured. The majority (76.9%) arose from the right coronary sinus. The right ventricle was the most common chamber of rupture (58.6%). Ventricular septal defect was associated in 46 patients (44.2%), of which 28 (60.9%) were supracristal. Ventricular septal defect was more common in aneurysms arising from the right coronary sinus (91.3%). Aortic incompetence was found in 45 patients (43.3%). The defect was closed through the aortic root alone in 24 patients (23.1%) and through both the aortic root and the chamber of rupture in the remaining 80 patients. Six patients underwent aortic valve repair, and 21 an aortic valve replacement. Results : There were two hospital deaths (1.92%). Morbidities were few. Follow-up ranged from 1 to 20 years (mean 8.2 ± 1.1). There was one late noncardiac death, and in the majority, the long-term follow-up was uneventful. Conclusion : Surgery for aneurysm of sinus of Valsalva yields gratifying results, and it should be undertaken as soon as the condition is diagnosed.     

Sinus of Valsalva aneurysm eroding into the interventricular septum

We report a case of erosion of an aneurysm of the right sinus of Valsalva into the interventricular septum. The mode of presentation, the preoperative evaluation, and the echocardiographic and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging features are presented, and the cardiac catheterization findings and surgical management of this very rare cardiac pathology are discussed.     

Dual-Inflow Great Vessel Aneurysm: Delayed Presentation After Penetrating Trauma

Aneurysms constitute uncommon sequelae of injuries to the thoracic outlet. Most such aneurysms are secondary to blunt trauma and usually involve the great vessels at their take-off from the aortic arch. Penetrating injuries are more often identified in the more distal vessels and only very rarely present as pseudoaneurysms. Reported here is a single case of a chronic posttraumatic pseudoaneurysm arising from both the right common carotid artery and the right subclavian artery. The workup and surgical approach provide practical lessons, complemented with illustrations that aid in the understanding of the case. It is an unusual case because of the dual-inflow nature of the aneurysm.(Ann Thorac Surg 1997;63:238–40)