Surgical repair of a sinus of a Valsalva aneurysm ruptured into the left ventricle

Surgical Repair of a Sinus of Valsalva Aneurysm: A 22-Year Single-Center Experience

BACKGROUND

Several reports described the repair of sinus of Valsalva aneurysms (SVAs); however, there is still debate regarding the optimal method of operation. We investigated the determinants of the development of significant aortic regurgitation (AR) and long-term survival after surgical repair.

METHODS

Between January 1995 and December 2016, 71 patients (31 females; median age: 33.3 years) underwent surgical SVA repair with (n = 60) or without (n = 11) rupture. Aortic valvuloplasty (AVP) was performed using Trusler's technique in 28 patients (39.4%), and 11 patients (15.5%) underwent aortic valve replacement during the first operation.

RESULTS

There was no early mortality, and three deaths occurred during follow-up (median: 65.4 months). Patients with grade II preoperative AR who underwent AVP tended to develop significant postoperative AR, but freedom from significant AR did not differ statistically (p = 0.387). Among patients who underwent AVP, freedom from significant AR did not differ statistically between those with grades I and II and those with grades III and IV (p = 0.460).

CONCLUSION

Surgical repair of SVA with or without rupture can be performed safely using the dual approach technique. Concomitant aortic valve repair can be performed without difficulty and should be recommended not only for patients with moderate or severe preoperative AR (grades III and IV) but also for those with minimal or mild preoperative AR (grades I and II), whose aortic valve geometry needs correction.

Clinical outcomes of percutaneous or surgical closure of ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical efficacy, safety, and long-term outcomes of percutaneous closure (PC) and surgical repair of ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm (RSVA).

METHODS

Eighty-five consecutive patients with RSVA were included in this study. Patients were considered candidates for PC if they met the criterion, surgical repair was performed on patients who were unsuitable or failed PC. Of them, 30 patients underwent PC, while the other 55 patients had surgical repair.

RESULTS

RSVA was successfully occluded in 29 of 30 patients who were treated by PC. The mean narrowest diameter at the ruptured site was 6.45 ± 1.60 mm measured by aortography. One patient developed serious occluder-related aortic regurgitation and underwent surgery. The success rate of the interventional approach was 96.7%. In the surgical group, 23 patients underwent repair of combined RSVA and ventricular septal defect. The hospital mortality rate of the surgical approach was 3.57%. During a median follow-up of 83 months (8-152 months), the improvement in NYHA functional class in the PC group was significantly greater than those in the surgical group (P < .01). One patient died of infective endocarditis in the surgical group. There were no further serious complications.

CONCLUSIONS

PC is a safe alternative to surgical repair for patients with isolated RSVA. Surgical repair is more suitable for those who have multiple cardiac lesions requiring surgical treatment or failed PC.

A new and simple classification for sinus of Valsalva aneurysms and the corresponding surgical procedure

OBJECTIVES

The classification system of Sakakibara and Konno for sinus of Valsalva aneurysm (SVA) is highly complex and seldom utilized in clinical practice. In this study, we propose a new and simple classification system; we suggest a novel approach that utilizes four distinct types of SVAs.

METHODS

We retrospectively studied 257 cases of SVAs in which surgical repair was performed between October 1996 and December 2009 and divided these cases into four types: I, rupture or protrusion into the right atrium; II, rupture or protrusion into the right atrium or right ventricle near or at the tricuspid annulus; III, rupture or protrusion into the right ventricular outflow tract under pulmonary valve and IV, others. The surgical results of the different approaches in each respective type were compared as follows: cardiopulmonary bypass time, clamp aorta time, mechanical ventilation time, intensive care unit time and postoperative stay time.

RESULTS

In all the patients, there was no early postoperative death; all the patients recovered and were discharged as expected. There were no significant differences in intensive care unit time and postoperative stay time among different approaches in each type (P > 0.05). Two hundred and thirty-eight (92.61%) patients were followed up.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical repair of SVAs exhibited good long-term results. Our classification of SVA could be potentially helpful for surgical practice. For Type I, the right atrium approach is advised; for Type II, the transaortic approach with a right atrium incision is advised; for Type III, the transaortic approach with pulmonary incision is advised while for Type IV, repair according to the respective situation is advisable.