An uncommon cause of acute right ventricular failure and high mixed venous oxygen saturation

• Published in: Intensive care medicine Vol. 18; no. 6; pp. 368 - 370
• Main Authors: PEAKE, S. L, PAVIA, J. A, BIHARI, D. J, CHAMBERS, J. B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer 01-06-1992; Berlin
• Subjects: Aortic Rupture - blood; Aortic Rupture - complications; Aortic Rupture - diagnosis; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Blood Gas Analysis; Cardiac Catheterization; Cardiac Output, Low - etiology; Cardiology. Vascular system; Diagnosis, Differential; Diseases of the peripheral vessels. Diseases of the vena cava. Miscellaneous; Echocardiography, Doppler; Female; Hemodynamics; Humans; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Oximetry - standards; Oxygen - blood; Sinus of Valsalva; Case study; Human; Oxygen; Saturation; Aneurysm; Tissue rupture; Cardiovascular disease; Right ventricular failure; Differential diagnostic; Valsalva sinus; Mixed venous blood
• ISSN: 0342-4642; 1432-1238
• DOI: 10.1007/BF01694367

Ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysms are rare. We report a case in which the usual clinical manifestations were not present and the patient was initially treated as an acute pulmonary embolus. Despite three negative echocardiograms an intra-cardiac shunt was suspected because of a persistently elevated mixed venous oxygen saturation. Cardiac catheterisation confirmed the diagnosis. Surgical repair was performed and post operative recovery was uneventful.