Left ventricular aneurysmal repair within 30 days after acute myocardial infarction: early and mid-term outcomes

For safe resection, left ventricular aneurysmal repair after acute myocardial infarction is usually delayed. However, delaying surgery may not be possible or prudent in some patients who are clinically unstable after acute myocardial infarction. We retrospectively reviewed the early and mid-term outcomes of left ventricular aneurysmal repair in patients who had experienced acute myocardial infarction <30 days before the repair. From September 2001 through May 2006, 127 consecutive post-infarction patients underwent concurrent anteroapical left ventricular aneurysmal repair and coronary artery bypass grafting. In Group I (38 clinically unstable patients), the surgery was performed <30 days after myocardial infarction. In Group II, 89 patients underwent the surgery > or = 30 days after infarction. The mean follow-up period was 26.16 +/- 16.41 months. One Group I patient (2.6%) died in the hospital due to graft-versus-host reaction. Three Group II patients (3.4%) died: 2 of low cardiac output and 1 of multiple-organ failure. Hospital mortality rates were not statistically significant between groups (P=0.582). All patients required similar perioperative inotropic support, intra-aortic balloon pump support, and re-exploration for bleeding or cardiac tamponade. The actuarial survival rates were 94.7% (Group I) and 94.4% (Group II). Postoperative New York Heart Association functional class improved similarly in both groups. We infer that left ventricular aneurysmal repair with coronary revascularization < 30 days after a recent myocardial infarction is a feasible procedure, with acceptable morbidity and mortality rates. Our mid-term results were comparable with those for patients who underwent this surgery > or = 30 days after acute myocardial infarction.