title: An unusual case of acute onset of cardiac failure.
abstract: Rupture of the aortic sinus of Valsalva is one of the rare causes of acute dyspnoea. Modern advances have enabled diagnosis to be made easily with echocardiography as illustrated in this case. The treatment of choice is surgery with excellent prognosis if detected early. Therefore a high index of suspicion is required to diagnose this potentially threatening but yet treatable condition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Ang
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Mak
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sivathasan
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology*; D004452:Echocardiography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012850:Sinus of Valsalva