Acute Rupture of Sinus of Valsalva into Right Atrium: An Echocardiographic Halftone

Abstract

AbstractA ruptured sinus of Valsalva is a rare and emergent cardiac abnormality, which can be acute and rapidly expanding to cause hemodynamic deterioration. Rupturing into right-sided heart chambers causes severe left-to-right shunt and sudden volume overload. Echocardiography especially transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is the gold standard facility for early perioperative diagnosis and also to guide surgical technique. Medical stabilization followed by prompt surgical intervention is the treatment of choice.We hereby report a case of sinus of Valsalva rupturing into right atrium leading to severe left-to-right shunt and the role of TEE in its perioperative management.