title: Atypical pseudoaneurysm after mitral valve replacement: Doppler echocardiographic diagnosis.
abstract: Ventricular pseudoaneurysm is a rare complication of mitral valve replacement or myocardial infarction. Typically, a ventricular pseudoaneurysm appears as an echocardiographic lucency posterior and lateral to the left ventricle and is best seen from the parasternal long axis and apical four-chamber views. We present an atypical case of left ventricular pseudoaneurysm that tracts posterior and lateral to the right ventricle that was best visualized from the subcostal and low parasternal windows with medial angulation. Doppler imaging confirmed the diagnosis by demonstrating to-and-fro flow between the left ventricle and the cavity located behind the right ventricle. This case emphasizes the importance of the use of multiple echocardiographic windows.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Ascah
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Patrick
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chilton
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zawalick
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bedard
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D006322:Heart Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D006341:Heart Rupture / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*