The authors present their experience on seven cases of Valsalva-sinus aneurysm (VSA) at the Instituto de Moléstias Cardiovasculares (IMC), from January 1984 to July 1990, treated surgically using bovine pericardium patch (PB-IMC) or valve replacement when indicated. Five cases were congenital and two were related to rheumatic disease. In two of the congenital cases the aneurysms were leaking into the right atrium, two were leaking into the right ventricle. And the remaining one was not leaking but was projected into the left ventricle. One of the congenital cases was leaking into the right ventricle and the other presented protrusion of the aneurysmatic sac into the left ventricle and eversion of the corresponding aortic leaflets. A bovine pericardium patch was used to give support for he sutures inxthe congenital ASV cases; for the cases related to rheumatic disease a valve replacement was performed using an IMC-PB biologic valve. From the congenital VSA patients, one had deiscence of suture at seven months and at six years, and was submitted to reoperation in both occasions. In the related to rheumatic disease group one died due to stroke on the 15th postoperative day. The use of PB patch proved satisfactory in this treatment, providing good support for the suture.
aneurysms of the sinus of Valsalva