title: Rare complication of dissection of Valsalva sinus with aorto-left atrial fistula in active aortic valve endocarditis.
abstract: We present a rare case of dissection of the sinus of Valsalva associated with an aortic annular abscess that perforated into the left atrium. A 61-year-old patient with infective endocarditis underwent emergent operation due to progressive heart failure, in whom echocardiography showed the dissection of sinus of Valsalva with aorto-left atrial communication. Procedure included autologous pericardial patch repair of the dissecting sinus of Valsalva and bioprosthetic valve replacement with a successful outcome. Microscopic examination showed excessive neutrophil infiltration in the aortic valve and annulus without involvement of the sinus of Valsalva.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Saitama Municipal Hospital, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasunori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Yoshiyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Haga
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000276:immunology; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D020556:Neutrophil Infiltration; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D012850:Sinus of Valsalva; D016157:Vascular Fistula / Q000150:complications*