A case of sinus of Valsalva-right ventricle fistula without a typical aneurysm, and a single origin of the coronary arteries

Int Heart J. 2005 May;46(3):531-6. doi: 10.1536/ihj.46.531.

Abstract

Few previous reports have described a sinus of Valsalva fistula without an aneurysm in Japanese patients. A single origin of the coronary arteries is a rare coronary anomaly. We describe a 75-year-old woman with a single origin of the coronary arteries and a sinus of Valsalva fistula without a typical aneurysm. Echocardiography showed turbulent flow from the right coronary sinus of Valsalva to the right ventricle throughout the cardiac cycle. Aortography confirmed the presence of a right coronary sinus of Valsalva-right ventricle shunt jet. Echocardiography and aortography demonstrated that there was no deformity of the sinus of Valsalva. Cardiac catheterization revealed that the left-to-right shunt rate was 29% and the Qp/Qs was 1.41. Aortography and coronary angiography did not identify a right coronary artery originating from the right sinus of Valsalva. Coronary angiography revealed that the right coronary artery arose from the proximal part of the left anterior descending artery and did not detect significant organic stenosis of the coronary artery. She was diagnosed as having a sinus of Valsalva to right ventricle fistula without an aneurysm, and a single origin of the coronary arteries.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aortography
  • Coronary Vessel Anomalies* / diagnostic imaging
  • Echocardiography, Doppler, Color
  • Female
  • Heart Ventricles / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Sinus of Valsalva / diagnostic imaging
  • Sinus of Valsalva / pathology*
  • Vascular Fistula* / diagnostic imaging