Emergency surgery for ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysms.

OBJECTIVES: A ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm is a very rare cardiac anomaly. Successful repair of these aneurysms was first described in the late 1950s. Several approaches for repair, through the aortic root or the chamber into which the aneurysm ruptures or a combination of both, have been described. We present our experience with emergency surgical repair of ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysms and our current surgical policy.

DESIGN: A review of the St. Antonius Hospital database from January 1972 to December 2010 identified a total of 16 patients. A retrospective review of their medical records and telephonic follow-up was performed.

RESULTS: Fifteen patients (13 male, three female) aged 46 ? 13 years were operated. The ruptured aneurysm arose from the right coronary (63%) and non-coronary sinus (37%) and ruptured into the right ventricle (67%) and into right atrium (33%). Primary suture closure was done in six patients and patch closure was performed in the remaining 10 patients. No intra-operative death occurred. Long-term follow-up identified one recurrent fistula from right coronary sinus to right atrium 28 years after primary suture closure.

CONCLUSIONS: We performed prompt surgical repair of the ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm preferably with a patch.