Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Implantation of Total Artificial Heart in Congenital Heart Disease
07:27

Implantation of Total Artificial Heart in Congenital Heart Disease

Published on: July 18, 2014

Unusual cause of heart failure in a 65-year-old woman

Mirela Tomescu1, Dan Rusinaru, Bogdan Mut-Vitcu

  • 1Department of Cardiology, City Hospital, University of Medicine and Pharmacy VictorBabes, Timisoara, Romania. cleopatratomescu@yahoo.com

Echocardiography (Mount Kisco, N.Y.)
|November 13, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Left ventricular free wall rupture after myocardial infarction can lead to contained cardiac rupture and LV pseudoaneurysm. Surgical repair offers a successful treatment option for this rare but serious complication.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Cardiac Surgery

Background:

  • Left ventricular (LV) free wall rupture is a critical mechanical complication following myocardial infarction (MI).
  • LV pseudoaneurysm, a rare consequence, can arise from MI, endocarditis, surgery, or trauma.
  • While often asymptomatic, LV pseudoaneurysms can manifest as heart failure or angina.

Observation:

  • A case report details a 65-year-old patient presenting with acute decompensated heart failure (HF).
  • The patient was diagnosed with a large chronic LV pseudoaneurysm and severe mitral regurgitation.
  • This condition, a form of contained cardiac rupture, complicated their post-MI recovery.

Findings:

  • Surgical intervention is the primary treatment for acute LV pseudoaneurysms post-MI.
  • Management of chronic LV pseudoaneurysms remains a subject of clinical discussion.
  • This patient underwent successful pseudoaneurysm resection and ventricular wall repair.

Implications:

  • Successful surgical management of chronic LV pseudoaneurysms is demonstrated.
  • Highlights the importance of considering pseudoaneurysm in post-MI heart failure patients.
  • Emphasizes the role of surgical repair in improving outcomes for complex cardiac ruptures.

More Related Videos

Clinical Application of Phase Angle and BIVA Z-Score Analyses in Patients Admitted to an Emergency Department with Acute Heart Failure04:05

Clinical Application of Phase Angle and BIVA Z-Score Analyses in Patients Admitted to an Emergency Department with Acute Heart Failure

Published on: June 30, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Heart Failure I: Introduction01:27

Heart Failure I: Introduction

Heart failure refers to a clinical syndrome caused by structural or functional cardiac disorders that prevent the heart from pumping an adequate amount of blood to meet the body's metabolic needs. This condition often arises from myocardial infarction or ischemia, leading to decreased cardiac output, reduced tissue perfusion, impaired gas exchange, fluid volume imbalance, and decreased functional ability.Heart failure can result from disruptions in the mechanisms that regulate cardiac output...
Imbalances in Cardiac Output01:26

Imbalances in Cardiac Output

The heart's primary function is to pump blood throughout the body, maintaining a balance between blood sent out (cardiac output) and blood returning (venous return). If this balance is disrupted, it can result in congestive heart failure (CHF), a severe condition where the heart becomes an inefficient pump, leading to inadequate blood circulation.
CHF can occur due to the failure of either side of the heart. Left-side failure leads to pulmonary congestion—the right side continues to send blood...
Heart Failure III: Clinical Manifestations01:26

Heart Failure III: Clinical Manifestations

Heart failure (HF) manifests primarily as dyspnea, fatigue, and fluid retention, resulting in peripheral and pulmonary edema. Symptoms may vary depending on which ventricle is more affected, left or right.Left-Sided Heart FailureAlso known as left ventricular failure, this condition results from the left ventricle's inability to fill or eject sufficient blood into the systemic circulation. It leads to pulmonary congestion, which occurs when the left ventricle fails to eject blood effectively...
Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology01:29

Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology

Systolic Heart Failure and Compensatory MechanismsSystolic heart failure (also termed HFrEF, Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction) is the most prevalent type of heart filure. It results in a decreased volume of blood being pumped from the ventricle. The aortic arch and carotid sinuses have baroreceptors that detect reduced blood pressure, triggering the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) to release epinephrine and norepinephrine. Initially, this response aims to boost heart rate and...
Heart Failure VII: Nursing Interventions01:30

Heart Failure VII: Nursing Interventions

The first step in nursing management of a patient with heart failure involves thoroughly assessing the patient's medical history.Subjective Data: Obtain the patient's medical history of coronary artery disease, hypertension, myocardial infarction, and symptoms like dyspnea, orthopnea, and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea.Objective Data: Conduct a physical examination to identify findings such as jugular vein distention, pulmonary crackles, tachycardia, murmurs, peripheral edema, and vital signs,...
Pathophysiology of Heart Failure01:17

Pathophysiology of Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF) is a progressive syndrome involving ventricles that leads to inadequate cardiac output. It can be classified based on location and output or ejection fraction. Ejection fraction (EF) is an essential measurement in the diagnosis and surveillance of HF. Reduced EF corresponds to systolic heart failure (HFrEF). However, HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is becoming increasingly prevalent. Also known as diastolic HF, this form of HF is related to aging. The...