Incidence of postinfarction aneurysm within one month of infarct. Experiences with sixteen patients in Hawaii.
BACKGROUND
We report on sixteen patients with a left ventricular aneurysm presenting at less than a month following myocardial infarction.


METHODS
All patients had significant left anterior descending coronary artery disease, and in eight cases (50%), this was the only significant pathology. Two patients who were treated conservatively, died within three months of infarction.


RESULTS
Of the fourteen surgically treated patients, one died. There have been two late deaths, one at ten months and the other at four years postinfarction. Patients who present early after infarction, usually have a large anterior aneurysm, requiring early surgical repair with ventricular aneurysmectomy and revascularization. This group of patients showed a higher risk for major complications (such as thrombo-embolism, arrhythmias) and/or death. Emergency coronary artery bypass surgery may prove beneficial in the prevention of aneurysm formation by revascularizing the viable but ischemic tissue in that area.
Premaratne
S
S
Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Administration Medical Center and Department of Internal Medicine, Medicine College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond 23249, USA.
Razzuk
A M
AM
Koduru
S B
SB
Behling
A
A
McNamara
J J
JJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006254:Hawaii / Q000453:epidemiology; D006322:Heart Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality; D012086:Reoperation; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate