Late recurrent rupture of a sinus of Valsalva aneurysm

• Published in: The American journal of cardiology Vol. 63; no. 11; pp. 761 - 762
• Main Authors: Hemp, James R., Young, J.Nilas, Harrell, James E., Woodworth, Gary R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 15-03-1989; Elsevier
• Subjects: Aortic Rupture - surgery; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiology. Vascular system; Coronary heart disease; Follow-Up Studies; Heart; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Recurrence; Sinus of Valsalva; Time Factors; Human; Recurrence; Corrective surgery; Aortocoronary; Congenital; Malformation; Coronary artery; Cardiovascular disease; Fistula; Long term
• ISSN: 0002-9149; 1879-1913
• DOI: 10.1016/0002-9149(89)90271-3

Sinus of Valsalva aneurysms are rare and usually of congenital origin. Their exact incidence is unknown due to their tendency to remain asymptomatic until the time of rupture. Both primary closure and patch repair of the defect are used depending on the characteristic of the lesion. Hospital mortality has ranged from 0 to 5% in recent series,
1–3 and most patients return to normal health after recovery from surgery. Recorded instances of recurrent fistula formation are unusual.
1,4 Most are reported to occur in the immediate postoperative period or several years after surgery. The mean follow-up in most series is ≤ 10 years.
3,4–6 We report a case of fistula recurrence 30 years after initial repair.