Left Sinus of Valsalva Pseudoaneurysm Causing Left Main Coronary Compression and Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Nassim Bousmaha1, Ronald Estrada1, Jean Porterie1
1Department of Cardiac Surgery, Quebec Heart and Lung Institute (IUCPQ), Quebec City, Canada.
Background:
Pseudoaneurysms of the sinus of Valsalva are rare and may cause life-threatening complications depending on size and location. Left sinus involvement is uncommon but may result in extrinsic compression of the left main coronary artery.
Case Summary:
A 69-year-old man presented with sudden cardiac arrest and was successfully resuscitated. Multimodality imaging revealed a large pseudoaneurysm arising from the left sinus of Valsalva causing significant compression of the left main coronary artery and myocardial ischemia. The patient underwent urgent surgical repair, including exclusion of the pseudoaneurysm and restoration of coronary flow, with a favorable postoperative outcome.
Discussion:
Left sinus of Valsalva pseudoaneurysms are rare but may present with acute coronary syndromes or cardiac arrest due to coronary compression. Prompt recognition with multimodality imaging and early surgical intervention are essential to prevent fatal outcomes.
Take-Home Messages:
Left sinus of Valsalva pseudoaneurysm may present as sudden cardiac arrest due to left main coronary artery compression. Smooth concentric narrowing of the left main coronary artery without atherosclerosis should raise suspicion for extrinsic compression. Early multimodal imaging is essential to confirm diagnosis and guide urgent surgical management.
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