True acquired left ventricular aneurysms in childhood.
OBJECTIVE
True left ventricular aneurysms are rarely encountered in childhood. Etiological factors are varied and often indeterminable. There is a paucity of literature detailing the surgical techniques used to repair pediatric aneurysms.


METHODS
Three children aged 21 months, 19 months and 5 years with true left ventricular aneurysms underwent surgical repair in our unit. The clinical details, surgical technique, histological review, hospital outcome and short term follow-up is discussed.


RESULTS
Two patients underwent repair of their aneurysms by means of the Cooley endoaneurysmorraphy technique, and 1 patient underwent repair using the aneurysm resection and linear plication technique. Histological examination revealed tuberculosis to be the etiological factor in one patient, while a non-specific vasculitis was present in the other 2 patients. Immediate postoperative course was uneventful and all 3 patients were discharged from hospital within one week. Two patients were recatheterized during follow-up visits. All patients were asymptomatic at 1 year follow-up. Echocardiography demonstrated good left ventricular function with disappearance of preoperative mitral regurgitation.


CONCLUSIONS
Pediatric left ventricular aneurysms may be successfully repaired using standard operative techniques. These techniques render excellent short-term


RESULTS
Longer follow-up is needed to fully evaluate the outcome of these children.
Long
M A
MA
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Orange Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
Hough
J
J
De Vries
W J
WJ
D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006322:Heart Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D035583:Rare Diseases; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery