An Asymptomatic Left Ventricular Pseudoaneurysm found incidentally at 12 months post Myocardial Infarction: Case Report and Review of the Literature

• Published in: ICF journal Vol. 20; pp. 37 - 39
• Main Authors: Brooks, Christian, Cooke, Heather
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Barcaray International 07.08.2020
• Subjects: cardiac catheterisation; echocardiography; left ventricular pseudoaneurysm; myocardial infarction
• ISSN: 2410-2636; 2409-3424
• DOI: 10.17987/icfj.v20i0.697

Highlights: Left ventricular pseudoaneurysms are a rare mechanical complication of myocardial infarction. If found acutely following infarction (within 2 weeks, with some advocating up to 3 months), surgical repair is recommended due to their high risk of rupture.Whilst associated with chest pain, dyspnoea and heart failure, some individuals are asymptomatic, with the diagnosis made incidentally on routine follow-up often months to years post infarction. Less is known about the natural history of these chronic pseudoaneurysms, with concerns around their propensity to rupture perhaps less than the mortality risk of surgical repair.We present the case of a 70 year-old asymptomatic man who was found to have a 1.6cm left ventricular pseudoaneurysm found incidentally on routine transthoracic echocardiogram at 12-months post posterior myocardial infarction.The consensus opinion of our institution's multi-disciplinary team regarding further management of this patient, with reference to the current limited data on chronic pseudoaneurysms, will be discussed.