Bicuspid aortic valve endocarditis complicated by ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm

Abstract

A 21-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with a high fever of 2-week duration. On physical examination, a grade 3/6 continuous murmur was heard in the left lower sternal border. Laboratory investigations revealed leukocytosis (white blood cell count, 29,800 /mm 3 ; neutrophils, 90%) along with elevated C-reactive protein levels (45.1 mg/dl). Transthoracic echocardiography showed a bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) accompanied by perivalvular abscess; multiple vegetations of the aortic leaflet (14×12 mm) and anterior mitral leaflet (9×8 mm) were found.A ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm (SOVA) originating from the noncoronary sinus and communicating with the right atrium was seen. Color Doppler imaging confirmed the presence of an aorto-right atrial fistula (. Fig. 1). The patient was transferred to the cardiothoracic surgery unit and prepared for surgery. The severely damaged valves were excised and replaced with mechanical valves, and the aneurysm was repaired with a bovine pericardial patch. After surgery, the patient was given intravenous antibiotics for 6 weeks. His postoperative course was uneventful. He was doing well at the 3-month follow-up visit.SOVA is usually congenital, but it can also occur secondary to infection, trauma, and other acquired cardiac diseases [1]. In our case, the patient's initial symptom was fever, followed by breathing difficulties after a few days. Thus, we infer that the aortic perivalvular abscess resulted in a ruptured SOVA. The prognosis of ruptured SOVA is poor and patients usually succumb to acute cardiac failure [2]. Early diagnosis and treatment are generally associated with a good outcome.