Coexisting ventricular septal defect affects the features of ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysms

OBJECTIVES: To determine the correlation exists between ventricular septal defect (VSD) and ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm (RSVA). METHODS: Between September 2003 and April 2014, 80 RSVA patients underwent surgical repair. These patients were retrospectively divided into two groups: the VSD group (38 cases) and the non-VSD group (42 cases). RESULTS: Rupture points of SVA originated more frequently in the right coronary sinus (RCS) of patients in the VSD group than those in the non-VSD group (p=0.002). In the VSD group, more than 92.1% tended to rupture into the right ventricular outflow tract. The rupture points are diverse in the non-VSD group. A significant difference was found in rupture points of RSVA between the two groups (p<0.001). Patients in the VSD group presented with aortic valve disease more often than those in the non-VSD group (p<0.001). A total of 67 patients were repaired with a patch at the opening of RSVA; of those, all patients in VSD group and 29 patients in non-VSD group were repaired with a patch. Nine patients in non-VSD group received transcatheter closure of RSVA. CONCLUSION: The presence or absence of VSD affects the rupture points of SVA, aortic valve disease involved, and therapeutic schedule. Ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm type should be clinically modified on the basis of presence or absence of VSD.