Ruptured sinus of valsalva : A case report with description of echocardiographic features

ABSTRACT

A patient with right sinus of valsalva aneurysm which had ruptured into the right ventricle is described. The diagnosis was confirmed at cardiac catheterization and angiography. Echocardiographic findings are discussed and these are compared with those given by others. Detection of a continuous murmur over the precordium during clinical examination alerts one to the diagnosis of patient ductus arteriosus. However, one should also consider aorto-pulmonary window, ruptured sinus of valsalva and coronary arteriovenous fistula among other rarer conditions in the differential diagnosis, Rupture of the sinus of Valsalva is usually thought to present with sudden onset of symptoms 1,2 and the patient may have sudden chest pain, syncope, rapidly progressive cardiac failure or even sudden death. We describe a patient with ruptured sinus of Valsalva who was completely asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis and whose abnormality was first suspected during a routine check-up.