Trauma and pseudoaneurysm of the left ventricle: clinical implications and morbidity pattern

ABSTRACT

Two cases of proved pseudoaneurysm of the left ventricle are presented. The diagnosis was made and confirmed by cross sectional echocardiography and cardiac catheterization through left ventricle angiogram. The first case resulted from blunt chest trauma while the second case followed mitral valve replacement. The clinical implications and the morbidity pattern in such situation are discussed and concluded that cardiac injury is not always a catastrophic event, but rather results in the formation of a pseudoaneurysm contained by adherent pericardium and fibrotic tissues