Long-term survival following left ventricular aneurysmectomy

Ninety-four patients who underwent left ventricular aneurysmectomy between 1971 and 1980 are reviewed. In thirty-four cases this operation was combined with myocardial revascularisation. The overall hospital mortality was 6% with a five-year survival of 72% +/- 6%. Symptomatology dominated by dyspnoea, a raised left ventricular end diastolic pressure (L.V.E.D.P.) and ventricular dysrhythmias adversely affected survival. Combined myocardial revascularisation did not affect the hospital mortality but was associated with a trend toward improved long-term survival in two groups of patients viz those presenting with predominant angina and those with major stenoses of two or more coronary arteries. Fifteen patients agreed prospectively to post-operative cardiac catheterisation. Despite symptomatic relief no improvement in L.V.E.D.P. or ejection fraction was demonstrated in this group.