title: Sudden cardiac death caused by coronary ostial compression by an aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva.
abstract: A 22-year-old man was asymptomatic until he died suddenly after being startled. Post-mortem examination was normal except for aneurysmal dilatation of the left Sinus of Valsalva, the upper margin of which formed a flap-like ridge, partially occluding the ostium of the left main coronary artery which arose immediately above it. Further compression of this "slit-like" orifice by aneurysmal distention was the proposed cause of myocardial ischaemia and arrhythmic death.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Daisley
authors.forename: E N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Barton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000209:etiology*; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013216:Reflex, Startle; D012850:Sinus of Valsalva / Q000503:physiopathology*