title: Congenital apical aneurysm of the left ventricle: surgical removal in two infants.
abstract: The case histories are described of 2 infants, representing either type of congenital apical left ventricular aneurysm. Case 1 had a finger-like, pulsatile, actively contracting aneurysm which was associated with a split distal end of the sternum and a ventral hernia. In contrast to most of the 55--60 cases hitherto described, no other cardiovascular anomalies were detected at heart catheterization with angiocardiography. The aneurysm was resected at the age of 23 days. Postoperative angiocardiography demonstrated a normal-sized left ventricle with good contractions and no residual aneurysm. He was last seen at the age of 15 mth, doing well. Case 2 had a noncontractile aneurysm and congenital pyloric stenosis, which hitherto has not been found in association with this type of aneurysm in the about 20 reported cases. The aneurysm was resected at the age of 9 mth; the estimated reduction of the left ventricular cavity was 20%. 1 yr after operation the patient was doing well, but the chest roentgenogram was unchanged and at angiocardiography the left ventricular appearance was largely unchanged compared to the preoperative findings. He was last seen at the age of 2 yr, doing well. The long-term prognosis in the latter type of aneurysm has still to be elucidated.
mesh_terms: D000790:Angiocardiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006322:Heart Aneurysm / Q000151:congenital* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male