title: Ruptured aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva associated with an atrial septal aneurysm.
abstract: Aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva (ASV) is a rare cardiac disease that may be acquired or congenital. It is usually an asymptomatic condition; however, when it ruptures, symptoms appear and the condition deteriorates rapidly. Atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) is a localized "saccular" deformity of the interatrial septum that is associated with cerebrovascular events of embolic origin. We will report on a case of a 69-year-old woman who was referred to our department because of congestive heart failure. Echocardiographic evaluation, both transthoracic and transesophageal, disclosed a ruptured aneurysm of the right sinus of Valsalva into the right atrium (RA), which was associated with an aneurysm of the atrial septum.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, General Hospital of Athens, G. Gennimatas, Greece. cardcl@hellasnet.gr
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karavidas
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Matsakas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Foukarakis
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Panou
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dounis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zacharoulis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017542:Aneurysm, Ruptured / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal / Q000379:methods; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006322:Heart Aneurysm / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D012850:Sinus of Valsalva