Unruptured sinus of valsalva aneurysm coexisting with ventricular septal defect

Abstract

Unruptured sinus of valsalva aneursym is an incidental, relatively rare finding on cardiac imaging and is often found in association with other cardiac defects with ventricular septal defect as the commonest. It presents a diagnostic challenge on transthoracic echocardiography in coexistence with ventricular septal defect in adulthood, mimicking other cardiac defects. Unruptured sinus of valsalva aneurysm coexisting with ventricular septal defect usually presents with symptoms of rupture—a surgical emergency in the third and fourth decade of life. We report a case of a 24-year-old single mother referred to the Cardiology Clinic of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital with 5 months symptoms of heart failure. Investigations showed cardiomegaly, prominent pulmonary conus, and upper lobe vessel diversion on chest x-ray. There were bigeminal premature ventricular contractions, left atrial abnormality, biventricular hypertrophy with a right strain on electrocardiogram, and bidirectional membranous ventricular septal defect with right sinus of valsalva aneurysm on transthoracic echocardiography.