title: Ruptured congenital sinus of valsalva aneurysms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Rupture of the sinus of Valsalva is rare, and there is a higher incidence of such rupture in Oriental countries than elsewhere. The objective of this study is to present the pathologic features and the clinical outcome after surgery in such patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1980 and 2001, a total of 17 patients (15 males and 2 females) with ruptured aneurysm of sinus of Valsalva underwent surgical intervention at the Tri-Service General Hospital, Taiwan. Their age ranged from 22 to 59 years with a mean of 33.5 years. These surgical operations made up 0.51% of the total cardiac operations (3305) performed during this period. The medical records were retrospectively reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The origin of the ruptured aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva was the right coronary sinus in 12 patients, the noncoronary sinus in 4, and the left coronary sinus in one patient. The aneurysms ruptured into the right ventricle in 12 patients, into the right atrium in 3 patients, and into the left ventricle in 2 patients. Associated cardiac anomalies were aortic regurgitation in eight patients, ventricular septal defect in seven, and coronary artery fistula in one patient. There was no early postoperative death and one patient underwent a second operation after aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva (ASV) relapse.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The operation for a ruptured aneurysm of sinus of Valsalva carries a low operative risk and results in excellent long-term survival after surgical treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Chih-Yuan
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Gou-Jieng
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Kou-Chen
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yi-Ting
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Chien-Sung
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Tsai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000151:congenital* / Q000601:surgery; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006345:Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular / Q000601:surgery; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000293:injuries; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D012850:Sinus of Valsalva / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013624:Taiwan; D016896:Treatment Outcome