uptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysms (RSVA) are rare and usually occurs in adolescence to early adulthood. 1 They are most commonly congenital in origin and caused by a weakness of the wall of the sinus Valsalva above the aortic valve annulus and leads to progressive dilatation, eventually rupturing into one of the 4 chambers of the heart or the mediastinum. 2 The aneurysm most commonly arises from the right coronary sinus (RCS) of Valsalva and most frequently ruptures into the right ventricle with a wind-sock like structure projecting from the sinus into which it ruptures. Surgical repair is the traditional treatment for RSVA. 3 With the advent of the transcatheter technique, transcatheter closure of the RSVA could be an alternative treatment. We report the results of transcatheter treatment of RSVA in 4 patients. with sudden-onset exertional dyspnea and palpitation. Bounding pulses and a continuous murmur could be detected in all patients. The diagnosis of RSVA is based on transthoracic 2-dimensional (D) echocardiography with color Doppler and angiography. Two patients had a cardiac chamber dilatation. All 4 patients underwent attempted transcatheter closure of the RSVA after obtaining consent from the patient or parents.
Methods
ProceduresUnder local anesthesia, the femoral vein and artery were cannulated with a sheath. Heparin (50 units/kg) was administered before the procedure and one dose of cephradine arginine was given. Hemodynamic studies and angiography were performed in all patients to calculate the pulmonaryto-systemic ratio (Qp:Qs) and to delineate the morphology of RSVA and the opening site (Fig 1). After general anesthesia, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was performed to monitor the procedure. The maximal diameter of the aortic opening of the RSVA was measured on multiplane TEE images. The distance between the aortic opening site of the RSVA and the right or left coronary ostium was also measured on TEE images. A 5 or 6Fr right Judkin catheter was advanced from the right femoral artery to the ostium of the RSVA. A 0.014 coronary extra-support guidewire (Boston Scientific, SCIMED, Natick, MA, USA) with a soft and floppy end was advanced through the catheter into the right atrium or the main pulmonary artery. A 10-mm Goose Neck Snare (Microvena, White Bear Lake, MN, USA) was advanced through the right femoral venous sheath, snared the coronary guidewire in the right atrium or the main pulmonary artery, and exteriorized the coronary wire through the right femoral vein. An arteriovenous rail