A rare cause of dyspnea: sudden rupture of aortic valsalva sinus aneurysm

Unruptured Multiple Sinus of Valsalva Aneurysms

Sinus of Valsalva aneurysm (SVA) is a rare cardiac condition occurring in about 0.09% of the general population, with potential for grave complications. Unruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysms of all three sinuses in the same patient are even more rare. There are congenital, inherited, or acquired causes. Noninvasive cross-sectional imaging modalities, consisting of color Doppler echocardiography, cardiac computed tomographic angiography (CCTA), and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), make the diagnosis. Treatment is mainly by open surgical reconstruction. However, transcatheter techniques are gaining popularity with noninferior outcomes in selected cases. We report the diagnosis and successful management of a patient with an unusual presentation of multiple unruptured SVAs of all three sinuses, and we conducted a review of the English medical literature.

Ruptured Sinus of Valsalva Aneurysm Associated with Situs Ambiguus, Isolated Levocardia, and Polysplenia

Aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva, a rare cardiac condition, results from dilation of an aortic sinus. Sudden aneurysm rupture can trigger rapidly progressive heart failure. We discuss the case of a 57-year-old woman with situs ambiguus, isolated levocardia, and polysplenia who presented with acute-onset heart failure. Transesophageal echocardiograms revealed an aneurysm of the right coronary sinus of Valsalva that had ruptured into the right atrial cavity. The patient underwent successful surgical repair. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a sinus of Valsalva aneurysm in a patient with this combination of congenital abnormalities. We briefly review the association between congenital heart disease, situs ambiguus, and ciliary dysfunction.

Bacterial Endocarditis Caused by Lactobacillus acidophilus Leading to Rupture of Sinus of Valsalva Aneurysm

Lactobacillus acidophilus rarely causes bacterial endocarditis, because it usually resides in the mucosa of the vagina, gastrointestinal tract, and oropharynx. Moreover, sinus of Valsalva aneurysms are rare cardiac anomalies, either acquired or congenital. We present the case of a middle-aged man whose bacterial endocarditis, caused by Lactobacillus acidophilus, led to an aneurysmal rupture of the sinus of Valsalva into the right ventricular outflow tract. The patient underwent successful surgical repair, despite numerous complications and sequelae.