[Left heart insufficiency following acute myocardial infarct]

In the light of a case history, current treatment modalities for heart failure after acute myocardial infarction are described. Thrombolytics, beta-blocking agents and angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors have radically changed the prognosis of acute myocardial infarction. A decrease in cardiac mortality and a marked reduction in cases with severe heart failure have been achieved with optimal use of modern therapy. In cases without sufficient improvement by pharmacotherapy, combination with cardiac surgery may lead to a favourable result. Left ventricular aneurysmectomy is the procedure of choice for large ventricular aneurysms with heart failure symptoms.