Congenital aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva. Surgical repair in an infant.

We report the case of a 5-month-old infant with cardiac failure and an unruptured aneurysm of the right coronary sinus of Valsalva. Emphasis is put on the diagnostic value of the echocardiogram. Cardiac failure was probably due to a combination of aortic regurgitation and compression of the outflow tract of the right ventricle. The surgical approach is discussed. The defect was repaired through an aortotomy. The aneurysmal sac was resected and an aortic valvuloplasty was performed. Twelve months postoperatively the patient continues to be asymptomatic; an aortic root angiogram shows only trivial aortic insufficiency.