[Idiopathic annular submitral aneurysm. Contribution of echography apropos of 5 cases]

The authors report 5 cases of annular subvalvular left ventricular idiopathic aneurysm observed within less than 4 years (April 1984 to October 1987) at the hospital of Niamey, Niger. All 5 patients were examined by echocardiography, an exploratory technique which is new for this type of disease. The condition is rare and has been described mostly in black people living in African countries. At the hospital of Niamey, annular subvalvular left ventricular aneurysm was found in 0.04 p. 100 of in-patients and accounted for 0.34 p. 100 of all cardiovascular diseases. The patients were young adults (mean age 20 years), and at the time of diagnosis all were in stage III or IV heart failure. An apical systolic murmur was regularly present; it was due to the mitral regurgitation resulting from the traction exerted by the aneurysm. The prognosis was unfavourable. There were 3 deaths, 2 of which were directly ascribable to the aneurysm and due to thromboembolism (1 case) and arrhythmia (1 case) which are recognized complications of that disease. The diagnosis, always suspected on the finding, on frontal radiographs, of a protruding left cardiac border, was hitherto confirmed by angiography; the authors did not perform angiography and confirmed the diagnosis by echocardiography. Annular subvalvular left ventricular aneurysms are lesions of obscure origin. In our patients, none of the inflammatory, infective or traumatic causes suggested in the literature could be found. Cardiomyopathy associated with the aneurysm was suspected in all patients and confirmed in 3 of them.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Ventricular aneurysms: a geometrical-dynamical model

A geometrical-dynamical model has been designed with the aim to reproduce the early phases of ventricular aneurysms formation. Possible deleterious forces within a solidary-dynamic structure start when a partial or localized loss of contractility arises. A following important aspect is related to the compressive effects of those altered cells over the normally contracting neighborhood. An abnormal packing of elements within a cyclic-dynamic structure has taken place and consequently new abnormal forces of compression between altered and normal cells will result in a longitudinal course of progression. When this circle crosses itself, a ventricular aneurysm will be completed. The process could be ascribed to an elastic phenomenon activated by a compressive stress. The chain of events included in this model has been matched with usual pathological findings of ventricular aneurysms, i.e. wavy and broken fibres neatness of aneurysmatic borders, and apical outstanding incidence of aneurysms etc. The proposed geometrical-dynamical model admits the possibility of an interruption in the 7 steps process of ventricular aneurysm formation by means of a "barrier effect". This effect has been related to the fibrous extracellular matrix with its differences in amount and quality of scar formation, which is possible to be observed in ischemic heart disease and chronic Chagas' cardiomyopathy and in some other illustrative entities. An analysis of this particular aspect of scar formation on diverse aneurismogenic entities with different reactions of collagen and particularly different figures of incidence of aneurysmatic formation, show a high correlation with possible alternatives disclosed by this geometrical-dynamical model.

Akinetic versus dyskinetic left ventricular aneurysms diagnosed by gated scintigraphy: difference in surgical outcome

Forty-one patients selected for left ventricular aneurysm resection and coronary artery bypass grafting were studied by gated radionuclide ventriculography, and right heart catheterization before and after operation to establish whether the presence of paradoxically systolic expansion, as defined by radionuclide ventriculography, influenced the surgical outcome. Patients with systolic paradoxically moving left ventricular aneurysms (n = 28) improved their functional classification (New York Heart Association) (p less than 0.01) and exercise tolerance (watt-minutes) (p less than 0.001) compared with preoperative values, in contrast to the patients with akinetic aneurysms (n = 13), whose status remained unchanged. Left ventricular ejection fraction at rest (p less than 0.001) and exercise (p less than 0.0001) improved along with a significant reduction in left ventricular end-diastolic (p less than 0.002) and end-systolic volume indices (p less than 0.001) among the patients with paradoxical left ventricular aneurysms versus no change in the akinetic group. In a multivariate analysis of different preoperative variables, the presence of dyskinesia was found to be the only independent predictor of a favorable surgical outcome (p less than 0.004). In conclusion, the presence of dyskinesia represents an important marker of the outcome after aneurysmectomy.

Percutaneous (nonsurgical) supported angioplasty in unprotected left main disease and severe left ventricular dysfunction

A 69-year-old patient with the equivalent of severe, unprotected left main coronary artery disease associated with marked left ventricular dysfunction with ventricular aneurysm who had Class IV angina, underwent supported angioplasty utilizing a total percutaneous approach. The patient tolerated occlusion of his main left coronary artery for a total of 7 minutes without difficulty, during dilatation of left anterior descending and two circumflex lesions. He was discharged the following day, symptom free.

[Current possibilities of bloodless quantitative evaluation of the pumping function reserve of the heart based on the study of oxygen consumption during the treadmill test]

Estimations of minute circulation volume (MCV) and the recovery coefficient (RC) as a parameter of oxygen debt were compared during the treadmill test in 83 cardiologic patients and 32 normal subjects in order to assess their pumping activity. At every stage of exercise, MCV was calculated on the basis of oxygen uptake, using Hossak's formula. MCV values were similar in the patients and normal subjects at similar stages of the treadmill test, and in patients belonging to different severity classes. RC variation was, on the contrary, different and depended on the magnitude of hemodynamic disorders: as pumping insufficiency developed, there was an abrupt drop in RC. A method is proposed for the quantitative assessment of pumping functional reserve on the basis of the ratio of oxygen uptake (at the stage where RC change occurred) to the maximum achievable by a normal subject of the same age, sex and body weight.

[Surgical treatment of postinfarction heart aneurysms and akinesias]

The paper deals with the problem of surgical treatment of cardiac aneurysms and akinesias from the aspect of indication of surgical tactics and technique, risk factors and achieved results. The group of 117 patients is divided into 74 patients operated in 1970-1982 and 43 patients operated in 1983-1987 when already medium hyperthermia was used permanently, similarly as cold cardioplegia, complete haemodilution, pulsed extracorporeal circulation and relieving drainage of the left ventricle via the pulmonary artery. The reduction of early mortality from 24.3% to 4.7% provides clear evidence of the advantages of this procedure. The authors draw attention to differences in indications of surgical treatment between classical aneurysms and akinesians and to the importance of revascularization operations performed nowadays, using aortocoronary bypasses.

Advantages of colour flow imaging in the diagnosis of left ventricular pseudoaneurysm

Eleven cases of left ventricular pseudoaneurysm in nine patients were studied by cross sectional echocardiography, conventional Doppler echocardiography, and colour flow imaging. In two patients recurrent pseudoaneurysms developed after cardiac surgery, three had acute rupture after myocardial infarction, two were the result of stab wounds, one was a late rupture of a true left ventricular aneurysm, one developed after surgical resection of a true left ventricular aneurysm, and two as a consequence of left ventricular venting. In all 11 cases the diagnosis was confirmed by angiographic or surgical information or both. The diagnosis was suspected clinically in only four cases. Cross sectional echocardiography alone confirmed the diagnosis in five cases. Neither pulsed wave Doppler nor continuous wave Doppler established the diagnosis when they were used without colour flow imaging in five and three cases respectively. In all 11 cases colour flow imaging showed flow in and out of the pericardial cavity at the defect site as well as the abnormal flow within the pseudoaneurysm. Subsequent use of pulsed Doppler showed a consistent "to and fro" flow pattern across the myocardial defect with characteristic respiratory variation of the peak systolic velocity. This unique intrapericardial flow pattern is diagnostic of a pseudoaneurysm. Colour flow imaging is a valuable addition to cross sectional and Doppler echocardiography, and is the best technique for detecting left ventricular pseudoaneurysms.

Color flow mapping in perimembranous ventricular septal defect with left ventricular-to-right atrial shunts

The natural history of ventricular septal defect (VSD) varies with the exact location of the defect and also with the tissue changes surrounding it. Seven cases of perimembranous trabecular VSD were noted during color Doppler echocardiographic examination to have left ventricular-to-right atrial (LV-to-RA) shunts in association with aneurysmal transformation of VSD. Repeated cardiac catheterization documented the role of aneurysmal transformation in the increase of LV-to-RA shunts. A VSD located near the antero-septal commissure was diagnosed in all cases by echocardiography from the apical 5-chamber and parasternal inflow views. Echocardiographic signs of LV-to-RA shunts are high velocity backward turbulence in the RA without the presence of an elevated right ventricular systolic pressure and a two-directional turbulence through the "transformed" VSD. Corrective surgery confirmed the diagnosis in one case. Another case was complicated by an episode of viridans streptococcal endocarditis. The significance of LV-to-RA shunts in perimembranous trabecular VSD remains unknown.

[Left ventricular performance before and after left ventriculotomy and removal of a left ventricular aneurysm]

The effects of left ventriculotomy on left ventricular performance were studied in seven patients with ventricular tachyarrhythmia (VT) and nine patients with left ventricular aneurysm (LVA). Hemodynamic and left ventriculographic findings were evaluated before and after operations. In VT the non-contracting areas, measured at end-diastole, as mean 10.8 +/- 7.1% of the left ventricular internal surface area. There was no significant fall in left ventricular ejection fractions (EF), cardiac indexes (CI) and left ventricular end-diastolic volume indexes (LVEDVI) after left ventriculotomy. In LVA, the non-contracting areas decreased from 31.0 +/- 7.4% to 13.7 +/- 13.5% (p less than 0.01) in association with a reflex decrease in LVEDVI from 117 +/- 31.8 ml/m2 to 90.4 +/- 24.7 ml/m2 (p less than 0.05). EF increased from 40.8 +/- 7.00% to 54.6 +/- 10.7% (p less than 0.01). There was no significant change in CI and left ventricular stroke volume index after left ventricular aneurysmectomy. The observations indicate that left ventriculotomy of limited size is an acceptable and a safety approach to the ventricular tachyarrhythmias and another cardiac operations.

Left ventricular aneurysm: a review

The vast majority of left ventricular aneurysms (LVA) are secondary to coronary artery disease. The natural history of LVA is now better understood. The increasing use of noninvasive techniques has allowed earlier recognition and better appreciation of LVA genesis and pathophysiology. Improvements in surgical anesthesia and techniques have resulted in more successful LVA surgery. This article reviews the pathogenesis, natural history, and complications of LVA. Surgical indications and available treatment options in the management of patients with LVA and severe symptoms are presented. Left ventricular pseudoaneurysm (false aneurysm) will also be discussed.

Surgery of ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation in patients with coronary artery disease and LV-aneurysms

In 26 patients with left ventricular aneurysm and ventricular tachycardia and/or ventricular fibrillation following myocardial infarction, coronary angiography, left ventriculography and electrophysiologic examination were performed preoperatively. Surgery in all cases consisted of aneurysmectomy and mapping-guided endocardial resection of the area found to be the arrhythmogenic center. Four patients died peroperatively or during the postoperative hospital stay. The 22 survivors were followed up for 3-48 (mean 22) months postoperatively. There were no late deaths. Repeated electrophysiologic studies were performed in 18 of the survivors. Freedom from ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation was achieved in 21 patients, 17 after surgery alone and four after combined surgical and medical treatment. The remaining patient still has ventricular tachycardia despite combined treatment.

Improvement in cardiac performance and exercise tolerance after left ventricular aneurysm surgery--a prospective study

Forty two patients were studied prospectively by rest and exercise radionuclide ventriculography before and after (10 +/- 4 months) left ventricular aneurysm resection. Functional classification (NYHA) improved from 3.0 +/- 0.6 to 2.3 +/- 0.5 (p less than 0.0001) with an increase in double product (p less than 0.01) and total exercise workload (p less than 0.04) over preoperative values. End-diastolic volume was significantly reduced (p less than 0.0001) and resting global left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) improved significantly (p less than 0.03) after surgery, as did regional ejection fractions of the lateral/inferior wall (p less than 0.01). Cardiac index (CI) at rest, however, remained unchanged. Under exercise, improvement of global (p less than 0.0003) and regional ejection fractions (p less than 0.02) was more pronounced and a significant increase was also observed for CI (p less than 0.003). Improvement in left ventricular performance occurred both in patients with single and multiple vessel disease, but was more distinct in the latter group who additionally received coronary artery bypass grafts. These patients were furthermore postoperatively able to increase global LVEF at exercise (p less than 0.05). We conclude that aneurysm resection with or without coronary bypass relieves cardiac symptoms and improves exercise tolerance and left ventricular function at rest and on exercise in most patients.

A case of left ventricular aneurysm of uncertain etiology presenting as ventricular tachycardia

A case of a 59-year-old Asian male with several episodes of syncope and palpitation is reported. Electrophysiologic study disclosed that sustained ventricular tachycardia was induced by programmed electrical stimulation at the right ventricular apex. The electrogram in the left ventricular aneurysm showed delayed activities and the fastest depolarization. Entrainment was observed by faster pacing. Left ventriculography showed a large aneurysm and normal coronary arteries. Congenital left ventricular aneurysm is the most likely clinical diagnosis given the lack of past history of chest pain, myocarditis, cardiomyopathy, etc. Congenital aneurysm which presents as ventricular tachycardia is very rare, and has never been reported in an Asian. Medical management has thus far been successful.

Response of heart rate to atropine and left ventricular function in Chagas' heart disease

Chagasic patients may have a normal or abnormal response of heart rate to atropine. To determine if this response to atropine is related to the degree of left ventricular dysfunction, we studied 33 patients with a positive complement fixation test for Chagas' disease. Eleven subjects, with atypical chest pain and negative complement fixation test, were used as controls (sero-negative). Left ventricular wall motion and the left ventricular volumes were determined by ventricular cineangiography. Coronary arteriography was also performed. The sero-negative subjects had normal left ventricular wall motion and the left ventricular diastolic volume was 88 +/- 24 ml/m2. The response of heart rate to atropine was 50 +/- 8 (mean +/- SD) (range 40-65 beats/min). On the basis of the response to atropine, the chagasic patients were divided into groups with a normal response (greater than 40 beats/min) and those with an abnormal response (less than 40 beats/min). Sixty five per cent of those with a normal response had left ventricular apical aneurysms. The left ventricular end-diastolic volume was not significantly different from the sero-negative subjects (96 +/- 26 ml/m2). Six patients (30%) had a left ventricular diastolic volume between 110 and 140 ml/m2. Sixty two per cent of those chagasic subjects with an abnormal response had diffuse left ventricular hypokinesis, and the left ventricular end-diastolic volume was 192 +/- 49 ml/m2 (P less than 0.01). The response of heart rate and the left ventricular diastolic volume were inversely correlated in the chagasic patients (r = -0.88, P less than 0.01). Our results indicate that myocardial damage and the degree of left ventricular dilatation are more severe in chagasic patients with an abnormal response of their heart rate to atropine. Furthermore, the inverse correlation between these two variables is highly indicative of a relationship between the response of heart rate to atropine and the degree of left ventricular dysfunction.

[Relation of elevated ST segment in the electrocardiogram to echocardiography determined wall kinetics in patients after myocardial infarct]

The connection of ECG findings and disturbances of the kinetics after myocardial infarction was controlled on 104 patients in correlation to the echocardiography. The investigations were performed at discharge from hospital and in the 3rd month after infarction by means of ECG at rest and exercise electrocardiogramme as well as echocardiography. In this case was shown that the elevation of the ST-segment after anterior-wall infarction was above all the expression of an ischaemia and was in most cases accompanied by an akinesia of the anterior wall. Only patients with a precordial ST-elevation over 2 mm at rest with increase to more than 4 mm under exercise or patients with a smaller ST-elevation, but a symptom-limited performance to 50 Watt, connected with ST-elevation, ventricular extrasystoles or pathological diastolic pressure of the pulmonary arteries as withdrawal criterion belonged to the group with dyskinesias and aneurysms, respectively.

Quantitative analysis of regional systolic function with left ventricular aneurysm

Left ventricular aneurysm (LVA) remains a poorly understood entity, often resulting in congestive failure that is not consistently improved by standard resection with linear closure. Although other surgical approaches have been proposed, current methods to assess their effect on left ventricular function are not adequate. The purpose of the present study was to quantitatively define regional systolic function in patients with LVA and to assess acute changes in regional function after standard repair. Seven patients underwent resection of an anteroapical LVA. Intraoperative two-dimensional echocardiography was performed off cardiopulmonary bypass immediately before and after resection. In all patients, short-axis views at the papillary muscle (apex) level showed anteroseptal paradox and distorted geometry, whereas at the mitral valve (base), symmetric wall motion and geometry were preserved. Videotaped echo images were divided into octants by a floating axis fitted to internal landmarks. Myocardial area and midwall perimeter were obtained for each octant, and wall thickness was calculated at end diastole (ED), isovolumetric systole (IS), and end systole (ES). Wall thickening (delta t) for each segment was calculated as the percent increase in thickness from ED and averaged for all seven patients. At the apex level before resection, isovolumetric thinning occurred in the aneurysm as well as bordering segments, with delta t ranging from -17 +/- 5% (+/- SEM) in the anteroseptal segment to 12 +/- 6% posterolaterally (p less than 0.05). The isovolumetric bulge was followed by late-systolic thickening, however, with delta t ranging from 13 +/- 7% to 27 +/- 8% (NS).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Histologic correlation of ischemic and chagasic ventricular aneurysms. Relation to physiopathology]

We depict the histologic findings of ventricular aneurysms in 8 patients, 5 with Chagas heart disease and 3 secondary to myocardial infarction. Chagas disease and ischemic cardiopathy are the 2 conditions which show the highest incidence of ventricular aneurysms. The first one averages more than 60% in large series. The second one reveals ventricular aneurysms as a complication of myocardial infarction in 20-25% in large series. Both entities share identical hallmarks, and the same frequency of complications related to the presence of the aneurysms: vgr. sudden death, presence of malignant ventricular arrhythmias, thromboembolism, etc. Several histologic findings help to differentiate both conditions. Inflammatory cells, monocytes, eosinophils and lymphocytes interspersed within myocardial fibers, plus diverse lesions of myocytolysis point to a diagnosis of Chagas disease. We consider scar fibrosis as another capital difference to be observed in aneurysms of chagasic or ischemic origin. Fibrosis of ischemic origin is intense and early depending upon a quick stimulation of collagen I and III during the first days of myocardial infarction. Conversely, in Chagas disease the injury to the myofibrils by immunocomplexes is very slow and consequently collagen response will be slower and with lesser fibrotic response. We have previously considered in other publications this phenomenon after a geometrical-dynamical model have been designed for this purpose.

Improved diagnosis and characterization of left ventricular pseudoaneurysm by Doppler color flow imaging

Three patients with a left ventricular pseudoaneurysm are presented. Doppler color flow imaging helped to establish the diagnosis and was able to show additional blood flow abnormalities. The guided continuous wave Doppler interrogation of the shunting blood flow through the communication between the pseudoaneurysm and the left ventricle allowed the identification of a specific diagnostic flow pattern. Doppler color flow imaging offers advantages in patients with equivocal two-dimensional echocardiographic findings for elucidating confusing clinical findings and demonstrating additional and unsuspected flow abnormalities.

[A method of quantitative evaluation of left-ventricular functional reserve in patients with heart aneurysm]

Twenty-four patients with postinfarction aneurysms of the heart and 9 patients with chest pains were investigated in order to assess the value of left-ventricular reserve parameters, proposed by the authors, i. e. the ratio between the percentage of change in ejection time and diastolic elasticity in the course of isometric stress and the increment at arterial blood pressure test. These parameters are shown to be more valuable for the assessment of left-ventricular function, as compared to conventional ventriculographic and intraventricular pressure parameters, measured at rest. The changes in ejection fraction and diastolic elasticity at isometric stress are a fairly reliable signal that the resection of heart aneurysm may be contraindicated.

[Total and segmental left-ventricular myocardial function in patients with post-infarction heart aneurysm]

A study of total and segmental myocardial hemodynamics and contractility has demonstrated a close relationship between segmental disorders and the type and site of postinfarction left-ventricular aneurysms. A direct close correlation was established between total and segmental hemodynamic disorders, excepting the left-ventricular aneurysm area. A close correlation was also demonstrated between myocardial contractility and ejection fraction parameters in three left-ventricular segments. Standardized trisegmental hemodynamic and contractility analysis is shown to reflect left-ventricular myocardial condition in patients with postinfarction cardiosclerosis and aneurysms of the heart.

Electrophysiologic effects of thrombolytic therapy in patients with a transmural anterior myocardial infarction complicated by left ventricular aneurysm formation

To assess the effects of early thrombolytic therapy on the incidence of clinical and induced ventricular arrhythmias in high risk postmyocardial infarction patients, 32 patients with a transmural anterior myocardial infarction complicated by left ventricular aneurysm formation were prospectively evaluated. Sixteen patients (Group A) received routine care because of contraindication to thrombolytic therapy or other factors and 16 (Group B) received either tissue plasminogen activator or streptokinase within 6 h of the onset of chest pain. The two groups were similar in left ventricular ejection fraction (mean +/- SD, 28 +/- 9% [Group A] versus 30 +/- 8% [Group B]) and occurrence of spontaneous nonsustained ventricular tachycardia, new bundle branch block and congestive heart failure. Group B patients had higher peak creatine kinase MB levels (446 +/- 336 versus 205 +/- 120 IU; p = 0.017) and earlier time to peak creatine kinase values (13.4 +/- 6.6 versus 19.1 +/- 6.1 h; p = 0.006). Twenty patients who had no clinical sustained ventricular arrhythmias underwent electrophysiologic study 13 +/- 6 days after infarction. Ventricular tachycardia was induced during the study in 7 (88%) of 8 Group A patients, but in only 1 (8%) of 12 Group B patients given thrombolytic therapy (p = 0.0008). During a mean follow-up period of 11 +/- 8 months, eight Group A patients (50%) died suddenly or were resuscitated from sustained ventricular tachycardia; all Group B patients are alive and have had no clinical arrhythmic events (p = 0.002).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Hemodynamic effects of radical left ventricular scar resection in patients with and without congestive heart failure

To evaluate the hemodynamic changes that occur following radical left ventricular scar resection we studied 40 patients (mean age, 59.2 years; 36 males) with complete hemodynamic evaluation preoperatively (preop) and 5 to 12 days postoperatively (postop). Severe congestive heart failure (CHF) was present in 15 patients, ventricular arrhythmias in 19, and angina in 19 patients preop. The operation consisted of extensive scar resection with complete myocardial revascularization (average 2.4 grafts per patient). Ten patients required intraaortic balloon pump assist for up to 8 days postop. Postoperative left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) was estimated with multiple gated acquisition scanning. A significant rise in heart rate was observed in the whole group of patients postop (P = 0.000). In the group of patients with CHF preop the EF was increased from 25.1 +/- 8.4% (mean +/- SD) preop to 30.9 +/- 11.2% postop (P = 0.003), the cardiac index was increased from 2.2 +/- 0.5 liters/min/m2 preop to 2.7 +/- 0.5 liters/min/m2 postop (P = 0.02), and the pulmonary artery wedge pressure was decreased from 22.0 +/- 7.7 mm Hg preop to 15.5 +/- 4.3 mm Hg postop (P = 0.005). In the patients without active CHF preop no improvement in the above hemodynamics was noted. In conclusion, radical left ventricular scar resection significantly increased EF and CI and decreased PAW in patients with preop CHF, whereas in the absence of CHF this procedure resulted in minimal hemodynamic changes.