Left ventricular pseudoaneurysm: A rare but fatal condition.
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2017
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Nigerian Cardiac Society
Abstract
Left ventricular (LV) pseudoaneurysm (PA) is rarely seen and it is the result of free-wall myocardial
rupture contained by overlying adherent pericardium, fibrous tissue without myocardial tissue. When it
occurs, it is usually associated with myocardial infarction and is potentially prone to complications such
as thromboembolic phenomenon and rupture with resultant cardiac tamponade. LV pseudoaneurysm
is potentially fatal, and early detection with prompt treatment is important to prevent mortality. It is
sometimes difficult to differentiate LV pseudoaneurysm from true aneurysm. It is, therefore, very important
to use a combination of imaging modalities to evaluate the affected patients to confirm the diagnosis. We
report the case of a fatal LV PA in a middle-aged man who had no history suggestive of prior myocardial
infarction, diagnosed on two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography and contrast-enhanced computed
tomography scan.
Description
Keywords
Fatal, left ventricular pseudoaneurysm, rare
Citation
Nigerian Journal of Cardiology 14:42-6