RUPTURED ANEURYSM OF THE SINUS OF VALSALVA - CLINICAL REVIEW, TREATMENT RESULTS

Five patients were operated on because of ruptured aneurysm of the sin us of Valsalva. In the cases with no concomitant VSD the surgical acce ss from the aorta was used. The aorta was opened and the Fogarty cathe ter was introduced to the fistula. The ''wind sock'' of the aneurysm w as pulled back to the aorta and excised. The opening was closed with d ouble-line pledgetted polypropylene sutures. In severe aortic incompet ence mechanical prostheses were implanted. One patient had bacterial e ndocarditis with reopening of the fistula and aortic valve incompetenc e that required reoperation All patients are in a good clinical state. We recommend the use of Dacron patches even in small aneurysms to avo id re-opening of the fistula.