SUMMARY A case is described in which rupture of the right sinus of Valsalva occurred at 37 weeks' gestation. The ruptured sinus was successfully repaired one week after the delivery of a healthy infant by caesarean section.Rupture of a sinus of Valsalva has not been reported in pregnancy before. We describe such a case, and outline a successful management strategy.
Case reportA 22 year old Turkish Cypriot woman in week 37 of her first pregnancy attended her local hospital because of palpitation and chest pain. She had become aware of a sudden increase in her heart rate one week before when hanging out washing: there had been some retrosternal discomfort at the time. Subsequently a dry cough, dyspnoea, and orthopnoea had developed and a heart murmur was heard.Examination showed tachypnoea on minor exertion. She had a sinus tachycardia of 110 beats/min.
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