Thoracotomy for repair of left ventricular aneurysm in a patient with patent coronary bypass grafts.
A 72-year-old man presented with a posterior left ventricular aneurysm 5 years after undergoing quadruple coronary artery bypass grafting. An angiogram demonstrated patent saphenous vein grafts, but also showed incidental asymptomatic aortic aneurysms. Left ventricular endoaneurysmorrhaphy was performed through a left thoracotomy. This approach affords excellent exposure of a posterior left ventricular aneurysm, averts many of the risks associated with reoperation, and should be considered in patients who have undergone a median sternotomy and who do not require myocardial revascularization.
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Boston University Medical Center, Massachusetts 02118.
O M
OM
Shapira
G S
GS
Aldea
T G
TG
Carr
R J
RJ
Shemin
D000368:Aged; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000150:complications; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D006322:Heart Aneurysm / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006352:Heart Ventricles; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013908:Thoracotomy