Association of ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm and congenital ventricular septal defect: a case series

Massive sinus of Valsalva aneurysm with an associated bicuspid aortic valve: A rare clinical image

A sinus of Valsalva aneurysm is a rare cardiac anomaly characterized by an abnormal dilatation of the aortic root. This occurs due to a weakened elastic lamina at the junction of the aortic media and the annulus fibrosus. The aneurysm can be congenital or acquired and comprises up to 3.5% of all congenital cardiac defects. Due to the aneurysm’s physiologic function and location, it can present significant clinical consequences in both the rupture and unruptured state. We present the case of a middle-aged male with no significant medical history who was found to have a massive unruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm. He was treated surgically with no postoperative complications.

Case Report: Right Heart Failure Mistaken for Obesity-A Fault of Telemedicine

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine has become an important branch of healthcare worldwide. Apart from their undeniable advantages, the virtual visits lack physical examination, which can lead to important diagnostic mistakes. We hereby present a case of a pediatric patient whose weight gain, initially attributed to a sedentary lifestyle was, in fact, due to sub-acute right heart failure in the context of a ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm. The condition was not diagnosed until the patient presented at the emergency. The boy was successfully treated with two percutaneous interventions and returned to his previous stature.

Case report: Total thoracoscopic repair of sinus of Valsalva aneurysm combined with ventricular septal defect

The sinus of Valsalva aneurysm (SVA) is a rare cardiac anomaly. It can develop into the heart failure if it ruptures, which requires early intervention. However, such congenital anomalies are usually treated using a median sternotomy approach. Here, we report a rare case of SVA combined with a ventricular septal defect in which the patient underwent patch repair of the defects under a total thoracoscopy approach. She was discharged uneventfully and showed no residual shunt or aortic regurgitation postoperatively or at the 12-month follow-up. The total thoracoscopic approach for SVA repair is technically feasible.