Paulius Burkauskas1, Laurynas Skrodenis1, Ligita Bespalovaitė1, Julius Vidikas2
1Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Kaunas, Lithuania
2Lithuanian research center of health sciences
Abstract
Introduction: left ventricular pseudoaneurysm is a complication whose main etiological factor is myocardial infarction. This acute condition is formed when blood is trapped and confined to the pericardium or scar tissue after ruptures in the free wall of the ventricle. The development of pseudoaneurysm requires immediate assessment of the patient’s condition and treatment due to the high risk of rupture. Almost 50% of patients with this disease do not feel any symptoms. For this reason, pseudoaneurysm is diagnosed as early as complications occur, or by random routine examinations. The suspicion may also be caused by changes in the plain chest roentgenogram. To confirm the diagnosis, a computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging is performed. The treatment is performed by a surgery or percutaneous procedure, and the more appropriate one is selected according to the patient’s functional condition. This paper presents a clinical case when a patient develops pseudoaneurysm after a left ventricular myocardial infarction and discusses its diagnostic and treatment options.
Aims: to present the clinical case in the hospital of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. To select and analyze the causes, diagnostic and treatment recommendations of left ventricular pseudoaneurysm provided by experts.
Methods: the review of literature was conducted using the medical database, selecting publications investigating the burden of left ventricular pseudoaneurysm.
Results: after analysis of the literature main causes, diagnostics and treatment methods of left ventricular pseudoaneurysm are presented.
Conclusions: left ventricular pseudoaneurysm is a life-threatening pathology that most commonly occurs after a lower wall myocardial infarction. In radiological images of patients with a history of myocardial infarction, an increased risk of pseudoaneurysm should always be considered if an enlarged cardiac cavity is observed. Keywords: left ventricle pseudoaneurysm, miocardial infarction, left ventricle dilation.