Surgical treatment of left ventricular aneurysm

When a left ventricular aneurysm leads to pulmonary congestive symptoms, aneurysmectomy may provide relief. This retrospective study included 269 patients who underwent aneurysmectomy between 1993 and 2002, by the classic Cooley operation in 164 and by Dor ventriculoplasty in 105. There were no significant differences in early and late survival between groups, although the frequency of extended anteroseptal infarction was higher in patients undergoing the Dor procedure. Postoperative echocardiographic findings showed significant improvements in left ventricular function in both groups, in terms of end-diastolic and end-systolic dimensions and ejection fraction. Left ventricular aneurysmectomy significantly improved the clinical status and hemodynamic parameters of symptomatic patients. The choice of surgical technique depends on the extent of the scar segment, especially the presence of an anteroseptal scarred area. The Dor procedure is more suitable for restoring normal left ventricular geometry in patients with extensive septal infarction.