Ruptured congenital aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva: surgical technique and long-term follow-up.

Congenital ruptured aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva is a rare anomaly usually causing decrease of cardiac performance. Eight patients with a ruptured congenital aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva were operated upon at the University Hospital Zurich between 1970 and 1991. There were four female and four male patients aged from 15 to 48 years (mean, 36 years). Three patients were asymptomatic and five symptomatic. Associated congenital cardiac defects were found in six patients. Surgical techniques consisted of direct suture in seven patients and closure with a Dacron patch in one. A secondary Dacron patch closure was performed on the second postoperative day in a patient with suture insufficiency after direct closure. Associated operations were closure of ventricular septal defect in two patients, aortic valve replacement in two, aortic valve reconstruction in one and aortic valve commissurotomy in one patient. There were no operative deaths. The mean follow-up was 9 years, range 7 months to 17 years. There were two late deaths due to endocarditis and recurrent cerebral embolisation. An operation for a ruptured aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva has a low operative risk, but patients remain prone to development of late valvular complications.