Abstract
Three patients are presented in whom a subepicardial aneurysm developed as a complication of a myocardial infarction. This aneurysm of the left ventricle is unusual and has 3 distinctive traits: An abrupt interruption of the myocardium that comprises the mouth and typically a narrow neck of the aneurysm; aneurysmal wall comprised of epicardium with or without a thin myocardial layer; and a propensity to rupture spontaneously regardless of the wall components or stage of development. All 3 patients were given a diagnosis using echocardiography and underwent immediate surgical aneurysmectomy. One patient died as a result of renal and respiratory failure postoperatively. The long-term outcome of the other 2 patients was favorable without evidence of additional cardiac rupture or instability.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1318-1321 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography |
Volume | 16 |
Issue number | 12 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 2003 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
- Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine