CALCIFIED PSEUDOANEURYSM OF THE LEFT-VENTRICLE

Left ventricular pseudoaneurysm following acute myocardial infarction generally has an extremely poor prognosis without surgical repair. A r are case of long term survival for 23 years following cardiac rupture with subsequent development of a left ventricular pseudoaneurysm after acute myocardial infarction is reported. The patient suffered acute i nferoposterior myocardial infarction in July 1974 at the age of 58 yea rs. Clinical course and findings obtained on reassessment in 1992 (tra nsesophageal echocardiography, chest computed tomography and left vent riculography) confirmed a left ventricular pseudoaneurysm. The patient refused surgical resection of the lesion, but remained alive and well in 1997 (81 years old). In this case, it is considered that containme nt of hemorrhage by pericardial adhesions prevented immediate tamponad e and sudden death.