Left ventricular aneurysm: clinical and hemodynamic data

Massive biventricular thrombi complicating new-onset heart failure in a patient with suspected COVID-19

The World Health Organization nominated SARS-CoV-2 as the cause of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and has been granted as a pandemic. COVID-19 is an emerging threat due to the risk of microvascular, venous, and arterial thrombosis, thereby exacerbating organ injury and mortality. Although the exact mechanism of extensive thromboembolism and myocardial injury caused by SARS-CoV-2 is not illuminated, it is clear that COVID-19 related hypercoagulation increasing the fatality of the disease. Herein, we reported a patient with extensive biventricular thrombi along with the new-onset severe systolic dysfunction as an unusual catastrophic presentation of COVID-19. In our patient, there was both a right atrial "clot in transit" from his DVT as well as extensive muralized biventricular thrombus from severe global hypokinesis. We believe that the hypercoagulable state of his COVID-19 infection, along with severe systolic dysfunction, caused this unusual presentation. Although the hypercoagulable state of COVID-19 is well recognized, there have not been any reported cases of extensive de-novo intracardiac thrombus as of yet. We urge awareness of severe and potentially fatal extensive thrombosis and cardiac failure as the initial clinical presentation of possible SARS-CoV-2.

<Learning objective: Thrombotic manifestations are correlated with the high mortality rate in COVID-19; thus, strategies to prevent thrombosis have critical importance. The hypercoagulable state of COVID-19, along with cardiac injury, can lead to an extensive intracardiac thrombus and severe systolic dysfunction even in young patients who don't have previous cardiovascular comorbidities. We urge awareness of severe and potentially fatal extensive thrombosis and cardiac failure as the initial clinical presentation of COVID-19.>

The Usefulness of Admission Plasma NT-pro BNP Level to Predict Left Ventricular Aneurysm Formation after Acute ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Background

Left ventricular aneurysm (LVA) is an important complication of acute myocardial infarction. In this study, we investigated the role of N- Terminal pro B type natriuretic peptide level to predict the LVA development after acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Methods

We prospectively enrolled 1519 consecutive patients with STEMI. Patients were divided into two groups according to LVA development within the six months after index myocardial infarction. Patients with or without LVAs were examined to determine if a significant relationship existed between the baseline N- Terminal pro B type natriuretic peptide values and clinical characteristics. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

LVA was detected in 157 patients (10.3%). The baseline N- Terminal pro- B type natriuretic peptide level was significantly higher in patients who developed LVA after acute MI (523.5 ± 231.1 pg/mL vs. 192.3 ± 176.6 pg/mL, respectively, p < 0.001). Independent predictors of LVA formation after acute myocardial infarction was age > 65 y, smoking, Killip class > 2, previous coronary artery bypass graft, post-myocardial infarction heart failure, left ventricular ejection fraction < 50%, failure of reperfusion, no-reflow phenomenon, peak troponin I and CK-MB and NT-pro BNP > 400 pg/mL at admission.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that plasma N- Terminal pro B type natriuretic peptide level at admission among other variables provides valuable predictive information regarding the development of LVA after acute STEMI.

Fragmented left sided QRS in absence of bundle branch block: sign of left ventricular aneurysm

BACKGROUND

A left ventricular aneurysm (LVA) occurs between 3.5% and 9.4% of all cases of acute myocardial infarction. A fragmented left sided QRS (RSR; pattern or its variant RSr;, rSR;, or rSr;) without evidence of bundle branch block (QRS duration <or=120 ms) on the ECG may be associated with a significant myocardial scar, which is the characteristic of a LVA. We, therefore, postulate that fragmented QRS (RSR; pattern or its variant) in the left sided leads (I, aVL, V(3) to V(6)) may be a useful sign of LVA.

METHODS

ECGs of 110 consecutive patients with LVA documented by left ventricular angiography (30 degrees right anterior oblique view) was compared with 220 patients without LVA (110 patients with and 110 patients without coronary artery disease (CAD)), who were evaluated for CAD by symptoms and signs.

RESULTS

The sensitivity of the fragmented QRS for identification of LVA was 50% (55 of 110 patients) and specificity was 94.6% (209 of 220). Within the study population, the positive predictive value of the fragmented QRS for LVA was 83.3% (55 of 66) and the negative predictive value was 79.2% (209 of 264). Based on the range of prevalence of LVA in postmyocardial infarction population (3.5-9.4%) and on observed sensitivity and specificity, the positive predictive value of fragmented QRS for LVA after infarction can be estimated at 29-53% and the negative predictive value can be estimated at 95-98%.

CONCLUSION

The sensitivity of fragmented QRS in left precordial leads for LVA was only 50%, whereas the specificity was 94.5%. It has a relatively low to moderate positive predictive value and high negative predictive value.

Left ventricular aneurysm formation after anterior myocardial infarction: clinical and angiographic determinants in 809 patients

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have reported controversial results regarding the clinical and angiographic factors involved in the left ventricular aneurysm (LVA) formation after myocardial infarction (MI).

OBJECTIVE

This study was performed to determine the clinical and angiographic factors that are priori predictors of LVA following anterior myocardial infarction and so to provide a paradigm which may identify patients who were candidates for aneurysm formation.

METHODS

Of the patients who underwent coronary angiography during the interval between 1995 and 2000 in our clinic, 809 were found to have anterior MI and LVA (aneurysm group) (677 men, 132 women, mean age 53.3+/-11.4 years). The clinical and the angiographic data of these patients were compared with those of 446 patients (399 men, 47 women, mean age 55.2+/-10.5 years) with previous anterior MI and without LVA (control group).

RESULTS

LVA was found to occur more frequently in females (16.3% in women and 10.4%, in men, P=0.03) and in patients without previous angina (23.5 vs. 8.2%, P<0.0001). Major cardiovascular risk factors, previous anti-anginal medication and thrombolytic therapy did not show a significant difference between the two groups. Angiographic examination revealed that single-vessel disease, proximal left anterior descending artery (LAD) stenosis, total LAD occlusion, mean stenosis in LAD artery, end-diastolic pressure and left ventricular score were all higher in the aneurysm group compared to control group. After adjustment for other clinical and angiographic variables, single-vessel disease [odds ratio (OR) 5.89, 95% confidence interval (CI)=3.68-9.28, P<0.0001), absence of previous angina (OR=4.21, 95% CI=2.1-7.48, P=0.0003), total LAD occlusion (OR=2.63, 95% CI=1.97-3.53, P<0.0017) and female gender (OR=1.60, 95% CI=1.20-2.28, P=0.043) remained the independent determinants of LVA formation after anterior MI.

CONCLUSION

In patients with LVA, logistic regression analysis revealed that (1) single-vessel disease, (2) absence of previous angina, (3) total LAD occlusion and (4) female gender were independent determinants in the formation of LVA after anterior MI. Coronary collateral status and risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, smoking and family history of CAD were not found to be important determinants in the aneurysm formation.

Surgery for chronic left ventricular aneurysm. Benefits and side effects

Seventy patients who underwent elective resection of symptomatic postinfarction apico-anterior left ventricular (LV) aneurysm with or without coronary revascularization are reviewed. The early (< or = 30 day) mortality was 5.7%. Mural thrombosis occurred in 29 cases (41.4%), unrelated to the degree of preoperative LV impairment and predictable from preoperative LV angiography in only seven cases. The response to surgery comprised significant overall improvement of global LV ejection fraction (LVEF) during rest and of all variables in stress testing. This LVEF recovery correlated significantly with that of peak ejections rate, a variable of myocardial contractility. Contrastingly, right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) at rest decreased slightly but significantly without correlation to preoperative RVEF or LVEF. In comparisons between patients with congestive heart failure or angina at rest as dominant symptom, the former group showed greater depression of preoperative watt and LVEF but better postoperative recovery of these variables, while right ventricular deterioration was significant only in the latter. Postoperative recovery was best in patients with poor preoperative LV function (LVEF < or = 20%), even when surgery comprised only aneurysmectomy in isolated but ungraftable LAD disease (5 cases). The observed RV deterioration may be 'nonspecific', but it must be kept in mind as a side effect of the operation, as it detracts unpredictably from postoperative ventricular recovery. Patients with well preserved preoperative LVEF, small LV aneurysm and marginal expected post-aneurysmectomy changes according to LaPlace's law are probably at risk, and surgery should then instead be directed towards preserving the remaining viable myocardium by direct revascularization.