Surgical treatment of postinfarction ventricular aneurysm

We have operated on 62 consecutive patients for postinfarction ventricular aneurysm since coronary bypass grafting became available. Analysis of hemodynamic and angiographic data reveals that the prognosis of operation is favorable if mean pulmonary artery pressure is less than 45 mm Hg and cardiac index is greater than 2.0 L/min/m2; such factors as the preoperative New York Heart Association Functional Class, number of coronary grafts, aneurysm size, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, and coronary score were not closely related to the outcome of operation. Hospital mortality was 6.5% (4 patients) and late mortality, with a mean follow-up of two years, was 11% (7 patients). The prognosis among survivors was good: 82% (46) achieved NYHA Class I or II status, whereas 87% (54) had been in Class III or IV preoperatively. Concomitant vein grafting with aneurysmectomy did not significantly enhance operative or late survival, nor did it add appreciably to the risk of operation. Long-term benefits of revascularization in addition to aneurysmectomy are expected but not yet proved.