Posterior Ventricular Aneurysms

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Abstract
An extensive infarction of the posterior (diaphragmatic) left ventricular wall often compromises the posterior papillary muscle and causes early death from severe mitral regurgitation. This single fact explains the scarcity of posterior aneurysms as a clinical entity. In 11 cases of large posterior ventricular aneurysms that infringed upon but did not damage the mitral-valve mechanism, aneurysmectomy was performed. Repair of postinfarction ventricular septal defects was also necessary in two patients. The clinical diagnoses were made or confirmed by ventriculography and coronary arteriography. Of the major symptoms associated with posterior ventricular aneurysms, congestive heart failure was the most common indication for surgery. No operative deaths occurred; one patient died of a myocardial infarction in the late postoperative period. The 10 surviving patients are active, with improvement over their preoperative condition.