Unusual cause of heart failure in a 65-year-old woman.
Left ventricular (LV) free wall rupture is a potentially lethal mechanical complication after myocardial infarction (MI). Pericardial adhesions or slow extracardiac leak and pericardial inflammation may result in a contained cardiac rupture. LV pseudoaneurysm is a relatively uncommon clinical entity. It may occur after MI, but also as a complication of infective endocarditis, cardiac surgery, or trauma. Patients developing LV pseudoaneurysm after MI may present angina pectoris or signs of congestive heart failure (HF) but often are asymptomatic. Surgery is the treatment of choice for LV pseudoaneurysms diagnosed in the first months after MI. The management of chronic LV pseudoaneurysms is still subject of debate. This report highlights a 65-year-old patient newly hospitalized for acute decompensated HF who was diagnosed with a large chronic LV pseudoaneurysm and severe mitral regurgitation. The patient underwent successful resection of the pseudoaneurysm and patch repair of the ruptured ventricular wall.
Tomescu
Mirela
M
Department of Cardiology, City Hospital, University of Medicine and Pharmacy VictorBabes, Timisoara, Romania. cleopatratomescu@yahoo.com
Rusinaru
Dan
D
Mut-Vitcu
Bogdan
B
Cocora
Mioara
M
Mavrea
Adelina
A
Citu
Ioana
I
Dragulescu
Stefan Iosif
SI
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006322:Heart Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography