Incidental discovery of a membranous ventricular septal aneurysm in two dissimilar patients.
A ventricular septal aneurysm (VSA) is a rare cardiac anomaly, and an accurate statistic of its prevalence has not been reported in the literature. True incidence is likely underestimated as most patients are thought to be asymptomatic. As a result, most VSAs are discovered incidentally on echocardiography, during angiography, or at autopsy. Potential complications include rupture, bacterial endocarditis, right ventricular outflow tract obstruction, and thromboembolic disease. It has been proposed that VSAs occur in association with ventricular septal defects (VSDs) and other congenital cardiac abnormalities. It is uncommon for a VSA to exist in the absence of a known prior ventricular septal defect. We present two cases, each highlighting an incidental intact aneurysm involving the membranous interventricular septum. We discuss the contrast in the two patients with regard to their age, accompanying cardiac anomalies and cardiovascular fitness. Clinical implications of the condition are reviewed.
Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada N6A 5C1.
Abhishek
A
Naidu
Department of Medical Imaging, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada N6A 5W9.
Michelle
M
Ricketts
Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada N6A 5C1 ; London Health Sciences Centre-University Hospital, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada N6A 5A5.
Aashish
A
Goela
Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada N6A 5C1.
Gerard
G
Shoemaker
The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada N6A 3K7 ; GE Healthcare, Mississauga, ON, Canada L5N 5P9.
Shuo
S
Li