title: Surgical treatment of postinfarction pseudoaneurysms of the left ventricle.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Left ventricular pseudoaneurysm is a rare and frequently fatal complication of acute myocardial infarction. It occurs as a consequence of rupture of the ventricular free wall that gets confined by a portion of the pericardium. The purpose of this study was to present our surgical experience of postinfarction left ventricular pseudoaneurysms and to evaluate mid-term results.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population comprised five symptomatic patients diagnosed with left ventricular pseudoaneurysm and treated surgically in a short period of time. There were three males and two females. The mean age of the patients was 66.8 +/- 10.8 years. The diagnosis was made initially by echocardiography and subsequently confirmed by angiography. An additional cardiac magnetic resonance imaging study was performed in three patients. Surgical resection of the pseudoaneurysm was combined with an endoaneurysmorrhaphy procedure in all patients. Associated cardiac operations were performed in three patients. Definitive diagnosis of pseudoaneurysm was confirmed by histopathological evaluation of the excised wall in all patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients survived the operation and were discharged to home care. The mean duration of hospital stay was 11.6 +/- 4.6 days. Patients were either in class I or II of New York Heart Association classification at discharge. All patients are still being followed after surgery with a mean follow-up period of 10.4 +/- 6.6 months with no further problems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgical repair is indicated in left ventricular pseudoaneurysm as it carries a high risk of rupture and sudden cardiac death. Surgical repair combined with an endoaneurysmorrhaphy procedure carries a low mortality risk and improves functional capacity.
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Selçuk University, Faculty of Meram Medicine, Konya, Turkey. cunarin@yahoo.com
authors: Cüneyt
authors: C
authors: Narin
authors: Erdal
authors: E
authors: Ege
authors: Ahmet
authors: A
authors: Ozkara
authors: Omer
authors: O
authors: Tanyeli
authors: Gamze
authors: G
authors: Sarkilar
authors: Ahmet
authors: A
authors: Soylu
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Sarigul
authors: Mehmet
authors: M
authors: Yeniterzi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017541:Aneurysm, False / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006342:Heart Rupture, Post-Infarction / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged