Sinus of valsalva aneurysm of the non-coronary cusp: repaired in the adult with a Freestyle bioprosthesis.

Aneurysms of the sinuses of Valsalva, when detected before rupture, are repaired electively. When they are small, they are most frequently repaired by direct closure; when they are large, they are repaired with a prosthetic patch. When they are associated with prolapse of the corresponding aortic cusp and aortic insufficiency, valve replacement is usually performed concomitantly. We present the case of a patient in whom both abnormalities were corrected by implantation of a Freestyle bioprosthesis, the wall of which completely excluded the aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva. The patient remains asymptomatic 18 months after surgery.

Aortoscopy: a less invasive intraoperative method to assess the aortic valve.

Surgical management of mild aortic stenosis coexisting with severe coronary artery disease remains controversial. Direct examination of the aortic root under these circumstances may be decisive. At present, intraoperative assessment of the aortic valve requires an aortic incision which, in itself, may increase the risk of intraoperative complications, particularly when this portion of the aorta is needed to construct proximal graft anastomoses. We present a simple aortoscopic method for direct intraoperative assessment of the aortic valve while performing coronary bypass grafting that obviates the need for aortic incisions.