Abstract 10428: Bad Fall, Good Catch: Diagnosing a Rare Condition Presenting as Acute Coronary Syndrome

A 72 year-old mountain bicyclist suffered a biking accident. The following week, he presented to the emergency room with abdominal pain, where he was treated for superior mesenteric artery thrombosis and new-onset atrial fibrillation. Two months later, he presented with intermittent left scapular pain that radiated to the chest. Pharmacologic stress testing revealed a large reversible perfusion defect in the anterior wall with an ejection fraction of 41%. Left heart catheterization showed narrowing of the distal left main coronary artery and the proximal left anterior descending (LAD) and circumflex arteries, by what appeared to be external compression. Follow-up CT angiogram demonstrated two sinus of Valsalva aneurysms (SOVA) originating from the left and right coronary cusps. A transesophageal echocardiogram confirmed these findings and showed tremendous thrombus within the larger aneurysm. The patient was admitted to cardiothoracic surgery. Troponin was elevated to 0.16 μg/L, with EKG showing 1 mm ST-segment depressions in V4-6, prompting treatment for a non-ST segment myocardial infarction. He underwent complex surgery involving thrombus extraction and closure of the SOVA with pericardial patch repair, and coronary artery bypass grafting of the LAD and obtuse marginal arteries. After a prolonged ICU course in which the patient was managed for cardiogenic shock, he was discharged to a hospital equipped with a rehabilitation facility. Unfortunately, he developed profound lactic acidosis from ischemic bowel and passed away. SOVA are rare lesions that arise from congenital or acquired etiologies, such as this patient’s biking accident. Multi-modality imaging is important for quantifying size and anatomy. Unruptured SOVA can present as embolic phenomenon from thrombus, valvular regurgitation, or chest pain from compression of the coronary arteries. Rupture is a highly morbid condition, and so urgent referral to cardiothoracic surgery is recommended.