title: Clinical profile and outcome of patients with chronic postinfarction left ventricular false aneurysm treated surgically.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rupture of the left ventricular (LV) free wall is usually fatal. In rare instances, hemorrhage is confined, and a false aneurysm (pseudoaneurysm) forms. In this study we reviewed our experience with patients treated surgically for chronic LV pseudoaneurysm.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1997 and 2001, pseudoaneurysm was diagnosed in 8 patients (6 men and 2 women) 55.9+/-7.6 years of age, and the patients underwent surgery. Before operation electrocardiogram (ECG), chest x-ray, echocardiography, and cardiac catheterization were performed. Repair was accomplished by resection of the pseudoaneurysm with use of cardiopulmonary bypass and in moderate systemic hypothermia (26 degrees C-28 degrees C). In 3 cases coronary artery bypass grafts were implanted, and in another a postinfarction ventricular septal rupture was closed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before operation, 4 (50.0%) of the patients had congestive heart failure, 2 patients had unstable angina, and 2 were relatively asymptomatic. Six patients had ECG abnormalities (signs of myocardial infarction, persistent ST elevation). On chest x-ray 5 patients had cardiomegaly, and 2 of them had pulmonary edema. The definite diagnosis was established before operation in 7 patients and during the procedure in 1 patient. All patients survived operation, and none needed reoperation. An intraaortic balloon pump was used in 1 case. The postoperative courses of the other patients were uncomplicated. At the end of follow-up (mean, 31.0 +/- 12.4 months) all patients were alive in New York Heart Association functional class I (6 patients) or II (2 patients).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The clinical presentation of chronic pseudoaneurysm often is nonspecific. The results of surgical treatment of chronic LV pseudoaneurysm are satisfactory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland. bperek@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Bartlomiej
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Perek
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jemielity
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dyszkiewicz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017541:Aneurysm, False / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*