[Acquired interventricular communication and false left ventricular aneurysm caused by non-penetrating trauma of the...

A 48 year old man, victim of a serious road traffic accident (multiple limb fractures, closed trauma of the left hemithorax) was immediately diagnosed as having a systolic regurgitant murmur. The initial ECG recordings showed anterior subepicardial ischemia, and later, a low antero-septal and apical infarction. The hemodynamic status progressively deteriorated, leading to catheterisation 7 months after the accident showing an inferiorly situated VSD (oxymetry and dye dilution techniques). Angiography visualised the traumatic rupture of the lower part of the septum and an inferior posterior left ventricular aneurysm. AT surgery, the septal rupture was repaired by a Dacron patch and a false aneurysm was plicated. The patient was asymptomatic after surgery, and control catheterisation and angiography one year later showed the absence of a residual shunt and good movement of the inferior posterior left ventricular wall. The lesional mechanisms associated instantaneous septal rupture by deceleration, contusion of the apex and progressive development of an inferior posterior wall false aneurysm.