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.