An unnatural history of left ventricular pseudoaneurysm?

Abstract

We report the case of a 79-year-old woman with a history of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia and purulent pericarditis with subsequent subxiphoid pericardiostomy and formation of a large left ventricular pseudoaneurysm (LVPA) that has been medically managed. Long-term survival after pseudoaneurysm formation has traditionally been thought to be unusual without operative intervention. Computed tomography (CT), three-dimensional reconstructed CT, and echocardiographic images documenting the progression of the LVPA are presented over the course of the patient's follow-up. This case highlights the natural history of LVPA and the utility of multimodal imaging in allowing accurate assessment of LVPA anatomy.

• Authors: Andrew K Chen, Noah Rosenthal, Eric Nyberg, Brian D Hoit
• Journal: Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography : official publication of the American Society of Echocardiography (J Am Soc Echocardiogr) Vol. 23 Issue 12 Pg. 1335.e5-7 (Dec 2010) ISSN: 1097-6795 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 20646911 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Video-Audio Media)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2010 American Society of Echocardiography. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Aged
• Aneurysm, False (diagnostic imaging)
• Bacteremia (complications, surgery)
• Echocardiography
• Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional
• Endocarditis, Bacterial (complications, diagnostic imaging)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Heart Aneurysm (diagnostic imaging)
• Heart Ventricles (diagnostic imaging)
• Humans
• Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
• Imaging, Three-Dimensional
• Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
• Pericarditis (complications, surgery)
• Postoperative Complications (diagnostic imaging)
• Staphylococcal Infections (complications, surgery)
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• Treatment Refusal