title: Characteristics and outcome of primary congenital left ventricular aneurysm and diverticulum: analysis of cases from the literature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Congenital left ventricular aneurysm (LVA) and diverticulum (LVD) are rare cardiac anomalies. We aimed to analyse the characteristics and long-term outcome of prenatal diagnosed patients with LVA/LVD.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a systematic review of the literature to identify and analyse patients diagnosed prenatally with LVA/LVD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-six fetuses with prenatal diagnosis of LVA (50% male subjects) and 16 with LVD (38% male subjects) were identified. Fetal age at diagnosis was 23.8 ± 6.1 weeks. Mean maternal age was 30.6 ± 6.1 years old. LVA was larger (375 ± 237 vs 60 ± 71 mm(2); p = 0.002), and LVA/LVD was frequently observed in an apical location (62%). Associated cardiac/extracardiac defects were reported in 13/42 (31%). Symptomatic patients presented with arrhythmias (LVA 16% vs LVD 0%), hydrops fetalis (LVA 27% vs LVD 18.8%), or rupture (LVA 4% vs LVD 38%; p = 0.02). Size changes of the LVA/LVD during pregnancy were reported in 17%. Fetal death occurred in nine cases (21.4%); termination of pregnancy was performed in six cases (14.3%). All other babies were delivered at term. During follow-up (mean 29.1 ± 38.2 months), the rate of adverse events was significantly increased in patients with LVA (40 vs 0%; p = 0.04) CONCLUSION: The rate of fetal complications including fetal death is high. Long-term outcome among the survivors is significantly worse in patients with LVA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Zentralklinik Bad Berka, Robert-Koch-Allee 9, 99437, Bad Berka, Germany.
authors.forename: Marc-Alexander
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ohlow
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brunelli
authors.forename: Bernward
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lauer
mesh_terms: D004240:Diverticulum / Q000150:complications / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death; D006322:Heart Aneurysm / Q000150:complications / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006352:Heart Ventricles; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D011379:Prognosis