Pseudoaneurysm of the mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa: A long-term complication of infective endocarditis

Pseudoaneurysms of the left ventricle are rare and may occur as a result of transmural myocardial infarction, chest trauma, cardiac surgery, or endoca rditis. Although postinfarction pseudoaneurysms commonly arise in the mid a nd apical segments of the left ventricle, those resulting from endocarditis arise at the base of the heart. Here we report the case of a patient who d eveloped a Large pseudoaneurysm as a complication of aortic valve endocardi tis. The pseudoaneurysm had two uncommon features; it originated from the i ntervalvular fibrous body connecting the mitral to the aortic valve, and it eroded through the chest wall, resulting in blood drainage through the shi n.