Transcatheter closure of a ruptured sinus of valsalva: a systematic review of the literature

Successful Treatment of Ruptured Sinus of Valsalva Aneurysm Associated With Subarterial Ventricular Septal Defect

•A subarterial VSD may lead to a SOVA or rupture. •Important to exclude a SOVA rupture when continuous flow is seen in subarterial VSD. •Surgical repair is warranted when associated with heart failure symptoms.

Ruptured Sinus of Valsalva Aneurysm: Transcatheter Closure Through Retrograde Approach

The ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm (RSOV), a rare but well-recognized clinical entity, is invariably a form of left-to-right shunt due to rupture into right-sided chambers. It causes profound hemodynamic effects, especially when the rupture is acute. Like most other left-to-right shunts, it was only a matter of time before this rare defect also became amenable to transcatheter closure (TCC). Since the first report of TCC of RSOV by Cullen et al. in 1994 using the Rashkind umbrella, in recent times, there has been a spate of case reports, brief communications, and interesting case presentations at interventional meetings using the much more user-friendly and effective devices. We report a case of a 59-year-old female diagnosed with RSOV (noncoronary cusp to right atrium) treated with device closure by using a vascular plug through a retrograde approach without resorting to the usual antegrade technique involving the formation of an arteriovenous loop.

Infectious endocarditis complicated with intracranial infected aneurysm rupture and sinus of valsalva aneurysm rupture

BACKGROUND

Infectious endocarditis (IE) is an infectious disease caused by direct invasion of the heart valve, endocardium, or adjacent large artery endocardium by pathogenic microorganisms. Despite its relatively low incidence, it has a poor prognosis and a high mortality. Intracranial infectious aneurysms (IIA) and ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm (RSVA) are rare complications of IE.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report a young male patient with symptoms of respiratory tract infection, heart murmurs and other symptoms and signs. The patient also had kidney function impairment and poor response to symptomatic therapy. Blood culture was negative, but echocardiography was positive, which met the diagnostic criteria for infective endocarditis. Moreover, an echocardiography showed a ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm with a ventricular septal defect. Finally, secondary rupture of an IIA with multiple organ damage led to a poor clinical outcome.

CONCLUSION

Therefore, in the clinical setting, for young patients with unexplained fever, chest pain, or palpitations, we need to be highly vigilant, considering the possibility of infective endocarditis and promptly performing blood culture, echocardiography, cerebrovascular imaging and so on, in order to facilitate early proper diagnosis and treatment.

Giant unruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysms causing angina pectoris

BACKGROUND

Sinus of Valsalva aneurysm (SVA) is a rare cardiac anomaly which can be congenital or acquired. Patients with SVA are commonly asymptomatic when the occupying effect of SVA is insignificant, while ruptured SVA usually causes severe symptoms including heart failure and myocardial ischemia.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present an unusual case of a 64-year-old female manifesting with exertional dyspnea as well as angina pectoris for three months. Echocardiography and cardiac computed tomographic angiography confirmed unruptured left-coronary and non-coronary SVAs. The left anterior descending artery and left circumflex artery were stretched and compressed by the SVA which causing myocardial ischemia. The patient finally received aortic root replacement (Bentall procedure) and got symptom relieved.

CONCLUSIONS

Giant unruptured SVA originating from left coronary sinus is extremely rare. Our case highlights that giant SVA should be considered in cases with angina pectoris. Echocardiography and coronary computed tomographic angiography are useful and important for diagnosis. Surgery is highly recommended in patients with SVA.

Sinus of Valsalva Aneurysm: Different Modes of Presentation and Techniques of Repair

A sinus of valsalva aneurysm (SVA) is an asymmetrical dilatation of the aortic root located between the aortic valve anulus and the sino-tubular junction. Congenital weakness of the elastic lamina in the aortic media layer or trauma and infection as acquired events are the most principal causes of SVA. Presentation may be acute when rupture has occurred or SVA may be discovered fortuitously on echocardiography or CT scan when patients are examined because of unspecific chest pains, dyspnea or arrhythmias. Although endovascular treatment has been performed successfully in individual cases, surgical closure of the aneurysm aiming at preservation of the aortic valve whenever possible is the established procedure. This short report emphasizes the fact that individual treatment is required when SVA need to be operated, depending on the presentation, the location and the size of the finding. Surgery may consist of simple patch closure, bilateral tunnel closure (entry and exit) or more radical operation like Bentall in case the whole aortic root should be addressed. Overall results are excellent, independently of the clinical presentation (acute or elective) with a mortality approaching zero.