Pseudo-aneurysm of left ventricle presenting as non-resolving chronic pericardial effusion.

ABSTRACT

Left ventricular pseudo-aneurysm is a variation of left ventricular free wall rupture, in which collection of blood occurs in pericardial sac, through ventricular wall defect. In pseudo-aneurysm, blood from defect does not fill the entire pericardial sac. Instead, because of adhesions between ventricular wall and the sac, escaping blood is isolated to a localised area between wall and pericardium. Here a case of ventricular pseudo-aneurysm of late onset which behaved as non-resolving pericardial effusion is presented.