Surgical treatment of postinfarction pseudoaneurysms of the left ventricle

Left ventricular pseudoaneurysm is a rare and frequently fatal complication of acute myocardial infarction. It occurs as a consequence of rupture of the ventricular free wall that gets confined by a portion of the pericardium. The purpose of this study was to present our surgical experience of postinfarction left ventricular pseudoaneurysms and to evaluate mid-term results.

The study population comprised five symptomatic patients diagnosed with left ventricular pseudoaneurysm and treated surgically in a short period of time. There were three males and two females. The mean age of the patients was 66.8 +/- 10.8 years. The diagnosis was made initially by echocardiography and subsequently confirmed by angiography. An additional cardiac magnetic resonance imaging study was performed in three patients. Surgical resection of the pseudoaneurysm was combined with an endoaneurysmorrhaphy procedure in all patients. Associated cardiac operations were performed in three patients. Definitive diagnosis of pseudoaneurysm was confirmed by histopathological evaluation of the excised wall in all patients.

All patients survived the operation and were discharged to home care. The mean duration of hospital stay was 11.6 +/- 4.6 days. Patients were either in class I or II of New York Heart Association classification at discharge. All patients are still being followed after surgery with a mean follow-up period of 10.4 +/- 6.6 months with no further problems.

Surgical repair is indicated in left ventricular pseudoaneurysm as it carries a high risk of rupture and sudden cardiac death. Surgical repair combined with an endoaneurysmorrhaphy procedure carries a low mortality risk and improves functional capacity.