Left Ventricular Pseudoaneurysm Complicated With Very Late Rupture 5 Years After Myocardial Infarction

Case Report: A left ventricular pseudoaneurysm detected by cardiac magnetic resonance more than 1 year after a percutaneous transluminal coronary intervention

Pseudoaneurysm is a rare but lethal complication of acute myocardial infarction. In this study, we present a unique case of a patient with left ventricular free wall rupture detected by cardiac magnetic resonance more than 1 year after a percutaneous transluminal coronary intervention.

Left ventricular pseudoaneurysm: the niche of post-infarction mechanical complications

Left ventricular pseudoaneurysm (LVP) is a very rare, but potentially lethal mechanical complication of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Despite representing a unique subset of cardiac rupture, it presents peculiar features that distinguish it from both ventricular free-wall rupture (FWR) and ventricular true aneurysm. LVP occurs in less than 0.5% of patients affected by AMI. However, LVP is generally burdened by high mortality, often related to false cavity rupture, leading to catastrophic and often irreversible consequences. The risk of rupture is inversely proportional to the timing from AMI onset, which also determines both the classification of LVP and drives the indication for treatment. Despite the lack of a current consensus on LVP management, urgent surgery is the treatment of choice for LVPs occurring within 3 months from AMI, especially if larger than 3 cm in diameter. A matter of debate, however, is represented by chronic LVPs, especially because the risk of rupture decreases progressively as time passes and left ventricular (LV) false cavity stabilizes. Surgical mortality rate remains not negligible (more than 20%), but these suboptimal results may be considered acceptable, especially considering the lethality associated with the occurrence of pseudoaneurysm rupture. Diagnostic workup is essential for anatomical characterization of LV rupture, which is mandatory to guide the decision on surgical approach and technique for pseudoaneurysm repair. Finally, for a subset of patients with anterior LVP and a well-defined fibrotic neck, and deemed at excessively high surgical risk, percutaneous closure of the cavity has been described with encouraging results.

Myocardial rupture and left ventricular pseudoaneurysm due to late STEMI presentation during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown: a classical case report

Background

Left ventricular (LV) pseudoaneurysm is a serious and rare complication of myocardial infarction (MI). It occurs when an injured myocardial wall ruptures and is contained by overlying adherent pericardium or scar tissue, most commonly it develops in patients with late presentation of MI and delayed revascularization.

Case summary

A 64-year-old man presented to the emergency department with intermittent central chest pain radiating to back and neck and increasing on deep inspiration, which was considered to be of musculoskeletal origin for a week, but worsened despite medications. Electrocardiography showed features of ST-elevation MI; a circumflex artery occlusion was found on coronary angiogram and angioplasty was performed. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) revealed features of healed lateral wall rupture with adherent parietal pericardium and the patient was managed conservatively. Two months later the patient returned with severe chest pain; echocardiogram and cardiac computed tomography showed significant interval progression of the pseudoaneurysm. Aneurysmectomy was performed, after which the patient recovered and had none of the previous symptoms since. Follow-up CMR study revealed improvement of LV systolic function.

Discussion

A rare case of post-infarction LV pseudoaneurysm was reported. Multimodality imaging helped to detect and to differentiate this complication from the true aneurysm and to follow it up and plan the treatment. Conservative treatment was not effective in this case as the pseudoaneurysm progressed; aneurysmectomy helped to improve LV systolic function.