Ventricular Free Wall Rupture Research Articles

Catastrophic Event Following Percutaneus Coronary Intervention Developing In-Stent Thrombosis Leading Massive Pericardial Effusion and Free Wall Rupture

BACKGROUND: One extremely unusual but serious side effect of an acute myocardial infarction is left ventricular free wall rupture. It was reported to happen either during the sub-acute phase with overt cardiac remodeling (type III, 45%) or early after the beginning of Myocardial Infarction (MI) (type I or II, about 55%). Large infarct sizes, female gender, and advanced age have all been linked to an increased risk of free wall rupture. Clinicians continue to face significant challenges in diagnosing and treating this condition because of the diverse clinical manifestations linked to elevated death rates. AIMS: This case report aims to highlight a rare occurrence of mechanical complication of acute myocardial infarction CASE: A 69-year-old male patient was referred because of chest pain and dyspneu. He had a primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) and was diagnosed with posterior ST-Evelation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI). The patient had a stent inserted into his ostial-distal Left Circumflex (LCx) artery. Three weeks later, a reangiography revealed a left ventricle (LV) aneurysm and stent thrombosis. Massive pericardial effusion with free wall rupture was seen on the echo. He was breathing heavily while in our emergency room. His blood pressure was 125/74 (94) heart rate was 94 bpm respiratory rate 24 times/minute, SpO2 was 98%, there were no rales, and his ankles had pitting edema. By the bedside, Echo revealed an LV aneurysm, a large, localized pericardial effusion without tamponade, and a possible free wall rupture. Later, he was taken to the intensive care unit and had heart surgery DISCUSSION: Complications from an acute myocardial infarction may be ischemic, mechanical, arrhythmic, embolic, or inflammatory. Significant short-term clinical improvement and long-term survival are linked to the emergence of mechanical problems following acute myocardial infarction. CONCLUSION: the fact that primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) has significantly reduced the prevalence of this deadly event. Our results indicate that one of the key predictors and primary causes of this problem is a longer symptom of angiography time.

Left ventricular unloading therapy using Impella 5.5 after emergency surgery for acute myocardial infarction mechanical complication: a case report

BackgroundFollowing an acute myocardial infarction (AMI), surgery for left ventricular free wall rupture (LVFWR) and ventricular septal rupture (VSR) has a high in-hospital mortality rate, which has not improved significantly over time. Unloading the LV is critical to preventing excessive stress on the repair site and avoiding problems such as bleeding, leaks, patch dehiscence, and recurrence of LVFWR and VSR because the tissue is so fragile. We present two cases of patients who used Impella 5.5 for LV unloading following emergency surgery for AMI mechanical complications.Case presentationA 76-year-old male STEMI patient underwent fibrinolysis of the distal right coronary artery. Three days later, he passed out and went into shock. Echocardiography revealed a cardiac tamponade. We found an oozing-type LVFWR on the posterolateral wall and treated it with a non-suture technique using TachoSil. Before the patient was taken off CPB, Impella 5.5 was inserted into the LV via a 10 mm synthetic graft connected to the right axillary artery. We kept the flow rate above 4.0 to 4.5 L/min until POD 3 to reduce LV wall tension while minimizing pulsatility. On POD 6, we weaned the patient from Impella 5.5. A postoperative cardiac CT scan showed no contrast leakage from the LV. However, a cerebral hemorrhage on POD 4 during heparin administration complicated his hospitalization. Case 2: A diagnosis of cardiogenic shock caused by STEMI occurred in an 84-year-old male patient, who underwent PCI of the LAD with IABP support. Three days after PCI, echocardiography revealed VSR, and the patient underwent emergency VSR repair with two separate patches and BioGlue applied to the suture line between them. Before weaning from CPB, we implanted Impella 5.5 in the LV and added venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) support for right heart failure. The postoperative echocardiography revealed no residual shunt.ConclusionsPatients undergoing emergency surgery for mechanical complications of AMI may find Impella 5.5 to be an effective tool for LV unloading. The use of VA-ECMO in conjunction with Impella may be an effective strategy for managing VSR associated with concurrent right-sided heart failure.

Left ventricular free wall rupture caused by myocardial ischemia without treatable atherosclerotic coronary disease: a case series

BackgroundThe clinical presentation of left ventricular free wall rupture (LVFWR) varies ranging from uneventful condition to congestive heart failure.Case summaryHere we report two cases of LVFWR with different clinical presentation and notable outcome. A 53-year-old male presenting emergently with signs of myocardial infarction received immediate coronary angiography and thoracic CT-scan showing occlusion of the first marginal coronary branch without possibility of revascularization and minimal pericardial extravasation. Under ICU surveillance, LVFWR occurred 24 h later and was treated by pericardiocentesis and ECMO support followed by immediate uncomplicated surgical repair. Postoperative therapy-refractory vasoplegia and electromechanical dissociation caused fulminant deterioration and the early death of the patient. The second case is a 76-year old male brought to the emergency room after sudden syncope, clinical sings of pericardial tamponade and suspicion of a type A acute aortic dissection. Immediate CT-angiography excluded aortic dissection and revealed massive pericardial effusion and a hypoperfused myocardial area on the territory of the first marginal branch. Immediate sternotomy under mechanical resuscitation enabled removal of the massive intrapericardial clot and revealed LVFWR. After an uncomplicated surgical repair, an uneventful postoperative course, the patient was discharged with sinus rhythm and good biventricular function. One year after the operation, he is living at home, symptom free.DiscussionWhereas the younger patient, who was clinically stable at hospital admission received delayed surgery and did not survive treatment, the older patient, clinically unstable at presentation, went into immediate surgery and had a flawless postoperative course. Thus, early surgical repair of LVFWR leads to best outcome and treating LVFWR as a high emergency regardless of the symptoms improve survival.

Left Ventricular Free Wall Rupture Following Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Case Report and Discussion

We report a case of left ventricular free wall rupture (LVFWR) in a 57-year-old female who developed an abrupt myocardial infarction. The diagnosis was confirmed using echocardiography. The patient underwent a successful surgical repair involving suturing, patch insertion, and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The present case demonstrates that, while LVFWR is generally deadly, it can be adequately controlled with timely diagnosis and surgical intervention. Keywords: left ventricular free wall rupture (LVFWR), Acute myocardial infarction (AMI), coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Conservative treatment of post-infarction left ventricular free-wall rupture: case report

Conservative treatment of post-infarction left ventricular free-wall rupture: case report

Successful sutureless repair of multiple left ventricular free wall ruptures due to Takotsubo cardiomyopathy: a case report

BackgroundTakotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) is a temporary and reversible systolic abnormality of the left ventricular apical area resembling a myocardial infarction. Cardiac rupture due to TCM is a rare but fatal complication. Without cardiac surgery, 94% of patients with left ventricular free wall rupture (LVFWR) due to TCM die. Furthermore, successful surgical cases are rare. We report herein the successful treatment of multiple LVFWRs due to TCM using a sutureless repair.Case presentationAn 80-year-old man quarreled with his daughter and had a sudden onset of chest pain. He was transferred to our hospital in shock. Electrocardiography showed ST elevation and contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a bloody pericardial effusion. Emergent coronary angiography showed no significant stenosis. Cardiac arrest ensued because of cardiac tamponade. Emergent surgery was undertaken and three oozing lacerations on the lateral and inferior walls were noted. A sutureless repair was performed using TachoSil® patches. We also applied Surgicel Nu-Knit® absorbable hemostat with Hydrofit® where TachoSil® failed to completely adhere because of hematoma formation and achieved complete hemostasis. We diagnosed the ruptures due to TCM according to the Mayo criteria. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 71.ConclusionsA sutureless repair using TachoSil® patches and Surgicel® with Hydrofit® is a minimally invasive and effective method for the treatment of multiple LVFWRs due to TCM.

Successful surgical management of ventricular septal perforation following left ventricular free wall rupture due to acute myocardial infarction: a case report

BackgroundThe mechanical complications associated with acute myocardial infarction can be fatal. We report a life-saving case of a very elderly patient with consecutive mechanical complications of acute myocardial infarction.Case presentationA 90-year-old woman was transferred to our hospital for emergency care due to chest pain. She underwent emergency percutaneous coronary intervention of the left anterior descending branch and was diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction and intra-aortic balloon pumping insertion was performed. After returning to the intensive care unit, she experienced chest pain and went into shock. Echocardiography showed left ventricular free wall rupture, and percutaneous cardiopulmonary support was established. Emergency left ventriculoplasty was performed for the left ventricular free wall rupture. A ventricular septal perforation was observed on postoperative day 9, and its closure through right ventriculotomy was performed on postoperative day 10. On the 128th postoperative day, the patient was transferred to the hospital for rehabilitation.ConclusionsA 90-year-old patient with consecutive left ventricular free wall rupture and ventricular septal perforation after acute myocardial infarction was successfully managed with two surgeries.

Surgical Outcome of Postinfarction Left Ventricular Free Wall Rupture.

Left ventricular free wall rupture (LVFWR) is a rare and fatal complication after acute myocardial infarction. Early recognition and aggressive treatment are recommended. Between August 1999 and February 2023, 11 patients aged between 64 and 79 years developed LVFWR after acute myocardial infarction (mean interval, 3.5 days). Three patients had active bleeding (blowout-type LVFWR), and the other 8 patients experienced the oozing or sealed state. Eight patients were treated using a sutureless technique with Teflon felt and glue, 2 patients were treated using the primary suture closure technique, and 1 was treated using both the primary suture and the sutureless technique with Teflon felt and glue. One patient died in the operating room as a result of bleeding. Cardiovascular stability and hemostasis were achieved in the other 10 patients. There were 3 early deaths (all 3 cases as a result of area bleeding; 1 was treated with primary suture, 2 with sutureless glue). Three patients received percutaneous coronary intervention before discharge. All 8 remaining patients survived and were discharged. Three patients were lost to follow-up. The follow-up period ranged from 2 to 97 months, with 4 patients exhibiting New York Heart Association class I symptoms and 1 exhibiting New York Heart Association class II symptoms. Optimal surgical treatment for postinfarction LVFWR remains controversial. The sutureless technique may be a promising strategy for treating postinfarction LVFWR.

Up against the wall - emergency double myocardial rupture repair

BackgroundLeft ventricular free wall rupture (LVFWR) and interventricular septal rupture (VSR) are potentially catastrophic mechanical complications after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). When they occur together, “double myocardial rupture” (DMR), survival is unlikely. DMR is seen in only 0.3% of all AMIs. With or without surgical intervention, the odds are against the patient.Case presentationA 57-year-old male self-referred to the emergency department of a remote hospital 5 days after first experiencing chest pain. Investigations in ED confirmed an inferior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) complicated by DMR. Coronary angiography revealed a mid-course total occlusion of the right coronary artery (RCA). He was rapidly transferred to our regional cardiac surgical unit, arriving straight into the operating theatre, in cardiogenic shock. He was briefly conscious, before arresting prior to intubation and being massaged onto bypass. Not only did he survive the all-night operation, requiring a mitral valve replacement in the process, but he survived multiple postoperative complications to be eventually transferred on postoperative day 66, neurologically intact, to a peripheral unit to complete his rehabilitation. He was subsequently discharged home 88 days after the operation and was able to ambulate with a walking frame into his first postoperative follow-up clinic appointment.ConclusionsOur patient, against all odds, has survived DMR and multiple postoperative complications. We present the details of his case and the literature surrounding the condition. The patient’s mental fortitude and his supportive family played a significant role, along with excellent multidisciplinary team work, in assuring his survival.

Surgical repair of left ventricular free-wall rupture complicating acute myocardial infarction: a single-center 30 years of experience.

Left ventricular free-wall rupture (LVFWR) is a catastrophic complication of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Historically, cardiac surgery is considered the treatment of choice. However, because of the rarity of this entity, little is known regarding the efficacy and safety of surgical treatment for post-infarction LVFWR. The aim of this study was to report a single-center experience in this field over a period of 30 years. Patients who developed LVFWR following AMI and underwent surgical repair at our Institution from January 1990 to December 2019 were considered. The primary end-point was in-hospital morality rate; secondary outcomes were long-term survival and postoperative complications. Multivariate analysis was carried out by constructing a logistic regression model to identify risk factors for early mortality. A total of 35 patients were enrolled in this study. The mean age was 68.9 years; 65.7% were male. The oozing type of LVFWR was encountered in 29 individuals, and the blowout type in 6 subjects. Sutured repair was used in 77.1% of patients, and sutureless repair in the remaining cases. The in-hospital mortality rate was 28.6%. Low cardiac output syndrome was the main cause of postoperative death. Multivariable analysis identified age >75 years at operation, preoperative cardiac arrest, concurrent ventricular septal rupture (VSR) as independent predictors of in-hospital death. Follow-up was complete in 100% of patients who survived surgery (mean follow-up: 9.3 ± 7.8 years); among the survivors, 16 patients died during the follow-up with a 3-year and 12-year overall survival rate of 82.5% and 55.2%, respectively. Surgical treatment of LVFWR following AMI is possible with acceptable in-hospital mortality and excellent long-term results. Advanced age, concurrent VSR and cardiac arrest at presentation are independent risk factors of poor early outcome.

CASE-TB-01 - A Rare Case of Spontaneous Closure of Left Ventricular Free-wall Rupture After Acute Myocardial Infarction

CASE-TB-01 - A Rare Case of Spontaneous Closure of Left Ventricular Free-wall Rupture After Acute Myocardial Infarction

Abstract 15948: Highly Suspicious Yet Diagnostically Unrevealing Left Ventricular Free-Wall Rupture Following STEMI

Introduction: Left ventricular wall rupture is a rare but lethal complication following a ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We present a case of left ventricular free-wall rupture not identified on echocardiography and CT angiography (CTA) despite high suspicion who underwent emergent lifesaving mediastinal exploration and repair. Case: A 52-year-old male with past medical history of hypertension presented with typical chest pain. He was found to have STEMI with 100% left anterior descending (LAD) artery occlusion and underwent percutaneous coronary intervention to mid LAD. Post procedure, he developed atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular rate, pericarditis, increasing pericardial effusion (Figure 1), and cardiogenic shock. He underwent intra-aortic balloon pump placement with no improvement in hemodynamics and subsequently an Impella 5.5 was placed. On post MI Day 3, he underwent pericardial window in the setting of shock and increasing pericardial effusion. Intraoperative TEE showed signs of tamponade physiology (Figure 2). Repeat echocardiograms and CTA was unrevealing of a rupture. Post MI day 6, he had increasing output from the drains and increasing pericardial effusion with complete right ventricular collapse on bedside echocardiogram. Emergent mediastinal exploration revealed left ventricular (LV) free-wall rupture which was repaired with a bovine patch. Hemodynamics improved and goal directed medical therapy was started. Discussion: Free wall rupture is a rare complication post MI and is reported in only 0.01% of STEMI. It usually occurs within 1 week, majority occurring within 24 h of MI. Small LV wall rupture can be challenging to diagnose on cardiac imaging. This case emphasizes the importance of having a high index of suspicion for diagnosing free wall rupture in patients presenting with hemodynamically unstable pericardial effusion post STEMI. Prompt pericardiocentesis and surgical intervention lead to a good outcome.

Ventricular free wall rupture after myocardial infarction - a single-center retrospective analysis

Ventricular free wall rupture after myocardial infarction - a single-center retrospective analysis

Successful conservative treatment for left ventricular free wall rupture after acute myocardial infarction

Left ventricular free wall rupture (LVFWR) is a rare but fatal complication of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). An 81-year-old female patient with several cardiovascular risk factors presented to the emergency department with symptoms of developing a chronic stomachache and cold sweat. An echocardiograph showed wall motion abnormalities from the lateral to posterior wall, as well as pericardial effusion containing clots of up to 17 mm in the posterior wall that indicated LVFWR after AMI. Although she was conscious after being brought to the initial care unit, she suddenly lost consciousness and fell into electromechanical dissociation (EMD). Endotracheal intubation was immediately initiated and her pericardial drainage and intra aortic balloon pump (IABP) placement, and hemodynamics recovered. Although she had 100% obstruction in the left circumflex artery (LCX) #12 on coronary angiography (CAG), she was discharged to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) without percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Conservative treatment such as intubation, sedation, pericardiocentesis and strict blood pressure management as well as treatment by IABP long-term support led to the patient being uneventfully discharged after 60 days.

Alternative Method of Surgical Treatment of Post-Infarction Left Ventricular Free Wall Rupture. Case Report

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is one of the causes of death in developed countries, despite the latest medical technologies. AMI is usually accompanied by numerous fatal complications. One of these complications is left ventricular free wall rupture (LVFWR). Myocardial rupture after AMI can occur from 1 day to 3 weeks after the infarction. Most ruptures occur 3-5 days after a heart attack. Left ventricular free wall rupture requires only emergency surgical intervention, which in most cases consists in applying U-shaped sutures or wrapping sutures using Teflon patch.
 The aim. To demonstrate an example of alternative surgical tactics and intraoperative management of a patient with myocardial infarction complicated by rupture of the free wall of the heart with the transition to cardiogenic shock.
 Case report. We presented the clinical case of patient V., 72 years old, who was delivered by ambulance on January 10, 2023 to the intensive care department of the National Amosov Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery (Kyiv, Ukraine). Main diagnosis: ischemic heart disease, acute coronary syndrome with ST-elevation myocardial infarction, cardiogenic shock.
 Conclusion. The only effective method of treatment of rupture of the free wall of the heart is surgical intervention. Using a sandwich patch with resection of necrotic areas of the myocardium and U-shaped sutures with Teflon patch passed from the side of the left ventricular cavity through the myocardium in the peri-infarct zone and through a patch from a vascular prosthesis allows hermetically sew up the LVFWR.

Risk of cardiac rupture among elderly patients with diabetes presenting with first acute myocardial infarction.

We aimed to analyze the risk of cardiac rupture (CR) in aged diabetic patients with acute ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) who were followed up for one month, and analyze its independent risk factors. A total of 3063 aged patients with first onset STEMI admitted to Beijing Anzhen Hospital from January 2001 to December 2020 were retrospectively included. There were 2020 patients without diabetes mellitus (DM) and 1043 patients with DM. We used propensity scores matching (PSM) method to balance baseline exposure factors between patients with or without DM, and all were divided the DM group (1043 cases) and the non-DM group (1043 cases) after the PSM. The primary outcome was CR (the composite rate of papillary muscle rupture, ventricular septum perforation, free wall rupture), which was diagnosed based on clinical manifestations and/or echocardiographic findings. Kaplan-meier survival analyses and log-rank test was used to evaluate the risk of CR between the two groups, and Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate the independent risk factors for CR. After PSM, the baseline clinical data were similar between the DM and non-DM group (all P>0.05). However, level of glycated hemoglobin was significantly higher in the DM group (P<0.05). During 1 month of follow-up, there were 55 (2.64%) cases of CR, most occurred within 48h after admission (40 cases). Among the 55 cases, 11(0.53%) had papillary muscle rupture, 18(0.86%) had ventricular septum perforation, and 26(1.25%) had free wall rupture. Kaplan-meier survival analyses detected that the DM group was associated with significantly increased risk of CR (3.36% vs. 1.92%, HR=1.532, 95% CI: 1.054-2.346, P=0.030), ventricular septum perforation (1.05% vs. 0.67%, HR=1.464, 95% CI: 1.021-2.099, P=0.038) and free wall rupture (1.63% vs. 0.86%, HR=1.861, 95% CI: 1.074-3.225, P=0.027) than those in the non-DM group. Among the 2031 aged STEMI patients without CR, 144 cases (6.90%, 144/2086) died; and among the 55 patients with CR, 37 cases (1.77%, 37/2086) died due to CR. Therefore, twenty percent (20.44%, 37/181) of death was due to CR. Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that DM (HR=1.532, 95%CI: 1.054-2.346), age (HR=1.390, 95%CI: 1.079-1.791), female (HR=1.183, 95%CI: 1.049-1.334), troponin I (HR=1.364, 95%CI: 1.108-1.679), brain natriuretic peptide (HR=1.512, 95%CI: 1.069-2.139), revascularization (HR=0.827, 95%CI: 0.731-0.936) and β-receptor blocker (HR=0.849, 95%CI: 0.760-0.948) were independent risk factors of CR (all P<0.05). DM as well as a few other factors, are independent determinants of CR. CR is not a rare event among the aged STEMI patients and twenty percent of deaths are due to CR. However, large sample-sized studies are warranted to confirm these findings.

Peripheral VA-ECMO and pericardial drainage connected to the ECMO circuit for cardiac tamponade from blowout rupture: a case report

BackgroundLeft ventricular free wall rupture, particularly the blowout type, is still one of the most lethal complications of myocardial infarction and can cause catastrophic cardiac tamponade. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is often used to treat haemodynamic instability due to cardiac tamponade. However, elevated pericardial pressure can cause collapse of the right atrium, resulting in inadequate ECMO inflow and preventing the stabilisation of the circulation. Further, it can interfere with the venous return from the superior vena cava (SVC), increasing the intracranial pressure and reducing cerebral perfusion levels.Case presentationA 65-year-old man was hospitalised for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. We used ECMO for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. After the establishment of ECMO, transthoracic echocardiography and left ventriculography revealed massive pericardial effusion. The treatment was supplemented with pericardial drainage since ECMO flow was frequently hampered by suction events. However, the blowout rupture led to the requirement of constant drainage from the pericardial catheter. To tend to this leak, we connected the venous cannula of ECMO and the pericardial drainage catheter. The surgery was performed with stable circulation without suction failure of ECMO. During the course of the intensive care management, the neurological prognosis of the patient was revealed to be poor, and the patient was shifted to palliative care. Unfortunately, the patient died on day 10 of hospitalisation.ConclusionWe present a case wherein the combination of pericardial drainage and ECMO was used to maintain circulation in a patient with massive pericardial effusion due to cardiac rupture.

423 Up Against the Wall - Emergency Double Myocardial Rupture Repair

Abstract Background Left ventricular free wall rupture (LVFWR) and interventricular septal rupture (VSR) are potentially catastrophic mechanical complications after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). When they occur together ("double myocardial rupture" (DMR)), survival is unlikely. DMR is seen in only 0.3% of all AMIs. With or without surgical intervention, the odds are against the patient. Case presentation Our 57-year-old male patient self-referred to the emergency department of a remote hospital 5 days after first experiencing chest pain. Investigations in ED confirmed an inferior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) complicated by DMR. Coronary angiography revealed a mid-course total occlusion of the right coronary artery (RCA). He was rapidly transferred to our regional cardiac surgical unit, arriving at the theatre in cardiogenic shock but conscious before arresting and being massaged onto bypass. Not only did he survive the all-night operation, requiring a mitral valve replacement in the process, but he survived multiple ITU complications to be eventually transferred, neurologically intact, on postoperative day 66 to a peripheral unit to complete his rehabilitation. He has been discharged from the rehabilitation centre 88 days after the operation, and He is now able to ambulate with a walking frame. Conclusions Our patient, against all odds, has survived DMR and multiple postoperative complications. We present the details of his case and the literature surrounding the condition. We hope patients with meagre probabilities, such as the patient seen in this case, are not given up on; hence, our final message from this report is to persevere and persist against all odds.

Large Left Ventricular Pseudoaneurysm Presenting as an Embolic Stroke After a "Silent" Myocardial Infarction.

A 72-year-old woman with no history of coronary artery disease presented with an acute left middle cerebral artery stroke and was found to have a large left ventricular pseudoaneurysm measuring 8.7 × 7.6 cm and 2 large left ventricular thrombi, the source of her systemic embolization. Despite initial medical management, she developed refractory New York Heart Association functional class III heart failure, uncontrolled atrial fibrillation, and further enlargement of her pseudoaneurysm to 5.5 × 10.6 × 9.2 cm. She underwent urgent aneurysmectomy. Left ventricular pseudoaneurysms are rare and most commonly occur following an acute myocardial infarction when a ventricular free-wall rupture is contained by pericardium or thrombi. Historically, left ventricular angiography displaying a lack of an overlying coronary artery was the gold standard for diagnosis. Now, noninvasive imaging such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and echocardiogram with ultrasound-enhancing agent, are reliable diagnostic tools. They can distinguish a pseudoaneurysm from a true left ventricular aneurysm using characteristic findings such as a narrow aneurysm neck, bidirectional doppler flow between the pseudoaneurysm and the left ventricle, and abrupt changes in the cardiac wall structures. Progressive dilation, wall thinning, and dyskinesis can result in refractory heart failure, arrhythmias, and thrombi formation from venous stasis. Pseudoaneurysms have a 30% to 45% risk of rupture and can be treated with left ventricular aneurysmectomy.

Surgical treatment for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a five-year single-center experience of 421 cases

Objectives: To examine the short-term and mid-term effects of surgical treatment of obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in one center. Methods: The perioperative data and short-term follow-up outcomes of 421 patients with obstructive HCM who received surgical treatment at Department of Cardiac Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University from January 2017 to December 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 207 males and 214 females, aged (56.5±11.7) years (range: 19 to 78 years). Preoperative New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification included 45 cases of class Ⅱ, 328 cases in class Ⅲ, and 48 cases in class Ⅳ. Fifty-eight patients were diagnosed with latent obstructive HCM and 257 patients had moderate or more mitral regurgitation with 56 patients suffering from intrinsic mitral valve diseases. All procedures were completed by a multidisciplinary team, including professional echocardiologists involving in preoperative planning for proper mitral valve management strategies and intraoperative monitoring. A total of 338 patients underwent septal myectomy alone, and 59 patients underwent mitral valve surgery along with myectomy. A single transaortic approach was used in 355 patients, and a right atrial-atrial septal/atrial sulcus approach was used in 51 other patients. Long-handled minimally invasive surgical instruments were used for the procedures. Student t test, Wilcoxon rank sum test, χ2 test or Fisher exact test were used to compare the data before and after surgery. Results: The aortic cross-clamping time of septal myectomy alone was (34.3±8.5) minutes (range: 21 to 94 minutes). Eighteen patients had intraoperative adverse events and underwent immediate reoperation, including residual obstruction (10 patients), left ventricular free wall rupture (4 patients), ventricular septal perforation (3 patients), and aortic valve perforation (1 patient). Four patients died during hospitalization, and 11 patients developed complete atrioventricular block requiring permanent pacemaker implantation. After discharge, 384 (92.1%) patients received a follow-up visit with a median duration of 9 months. All follow-up patients survived with significantly improved NYHA classifications: 216 patients in class Ⅰ and 168 patients in class Ⅱ (χ2=662.73, P<0.01 as compared to baseline). At 6 months after surgery, follow-up echocardiography showed that the thickness of the ventricular septum ((13.6±2.5) mm vs. (18.2±3.0) mm, t=23.51, P<0.01) and the peak left ventricular outflow tract gradient ((12.0±6.3) mmHg vs. (93.4±19.8) mmHg, 1 mmHg=0.133 kPa, t=78.29, P<0.01) were both significantly lower than baseline values. Conclusion: The construction of the surgical team (including echocardiography experts), proper mitral valve management strategies, identification and management of sub-mitral-valve abnormalities, and application of long-handled minimally invasive surgical instruments are important for the successful implementation of septal myectomy with satisfactory short-and medium-term outcomes.