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Left Ventricular Pseudoaneurysm and Left Ventricular Thrombus in a Patient Presenting with an Acute ST-Elevation
Ali Abbood1, Hareer Al Salihi1, Maxim Olivier2
1Department of Internal Medicine, Orlando Regional Healthcare, Orlando, FL, USA.
Insights
Left ventricular pseudoaneurysm and thrombus are rare, lethal complications of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Prompt surgical repair is crucial for survival in patients not experiencing sudden death.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiac Surgery
Background:
- ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) can lead to acute left ventricular (LV) free-wall rupture.
- Rupture, if not fatal, may be contained, forming a left ventricular pseudoaneurysm (LVPS) with an incidence of approximately 0.3% post-STEMI.
Observation:
- A 73-year-old male presented with syncope and chest pain, diagnosed with anterolateral MI, lateral wall rupture, and LVPS.
- The patient also had LV thrombosis within the pseudoaneurysm, which may have stabilized the effusion.
Findings:
- The patient underwent successful coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), thrombectomy, and LV lateral wall repair.
- LV pseudoaneurysm and LV thrombus are a rare (<1%) complication of acute myocardial infarction.
Implications:
- This rare complication, often lethal, necessitates stabilization and surgical repair.
- Early diagnosis and intervention are critical for managing LV pseudoaneurysm and thrombus post-STEMI.
Abstract:
BACKGROUND ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), when associated with acute left ventricular (LV) free-wall rupture, is often a lethal complication, and if not followed by sudden death, the rupture may be contained by the parietal pericardium and a local thrombus, leading to the formation of a left ventricular (LV) pseudoaneurysm. The incidence of LV pseudoaneurysm after STEMI is ~ 0.3%. CASE REPORT A 73-year-old man who presented with an acute syncopal episode and intermittent chest pain for 7 days was found to have an anterolateral myocardial infarction (MI) with lateral wall rupture and pseudoaneurysm formation. He had an LV thrombosis in the LV aneurysm. While this increased his risk of thromboembolic events, it likely stopped the evolution of the rupture and stabilized the pericardial effusion size. The patient underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), thrombectomy, and lateral wall repair. CONCLUSIONS Left ventricular pseudoaneurysm and left ventricular thrombus in a patient presenting with an acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction is a rare complication of myocardial infraction, with an incidence of <1%. It is often a lethal complication and requires stabilization and repair if not followed by sudden death.
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