Pseudoaneurysm of the left ventricle: An unusual sequel of myocardial infarction and rupture of the heart

The clinical and pathologic findings in a fifty-three year old man who died following resection of a false aneurysm of the left ventricle are described herein. Following an acute myocardial infarction, the wall of the heart ruptured, but massive hemopericardium did not occur since the extravasated blood was confined by adherent parietal pericardium. Over the course of almost four years the aneurysm enlarged progressively and became partially filled with thrombus. The false aneurysm communicated with the left ventricular cavity by a small channel, which was the site of the myocardial rupture. The findings in five other patients with false left ventricular aneurysms described in the literature are summarized.