Giant and thrombosed left ventricular aneurysm

Jose Alberto de Agustin1, Jose Juan Gomez de Diego1, Pedro Marcos-Alberca1

  • 1Jose Alberto de Agustin, Jose Juan Gomez de Diego, Pedro Marcos-Alberca, Jose Luis Rodrigo, Carlos Almeria, Patricia Mahia, Maria Luaces, Miguel Angel Garcia-Fernandez, Carlos Macaya, Leopoldo Perez de Isla, Instituto Cardiovascular, Hospital Universitario San Carlos, Profesor Martin Lagos s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain.

Insights

A giant calcified left ventricular aneurysm, a complication of myocardial infarction, was diagnosed in a 78-year-old male. This condition caused severe systolic dysfunction, necessitating cardioverter-defibrillator implantation.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Cardiovascular Imaging
  • Interventional Cardiology

Background:

  • Left ventricular aneurysms are a known complication of extensive myocardial infarction, often occurring at the apex.
  • Timely diagnosis is crucial to prevent severe complications such as heart failure, thromboembolism, and tachyarrhythmias.

Observation:

  • A 78-year-old male with a history of anterior myocardial infarction presented with chronic heart failure.
  • Transthoracic echocardiogram and left ventriculogram revealed a large, thrombosed, and calcified anteroapical left ventricular aneurysm.

Findings:

  • Coronary angiography showed chronic occlusion of the left anterior descending artery.
  • The giant calcified left ventricular aneurysm was identified as the cause of very severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Implications:

  • This case highlights the importance of advanced imaging in diagnosing rare complications of myocardial infarction.
  • The patient received a cardioverter-defibrillator for primary prevention, underscoring the management of associated risks.

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