Pseudoaneurysm of the left ventricle: a rare sequela to mitral valve endocarditis.

Pseudoaneurysms of the left ventricle are a very unusual sequela to mitral valve endocarditis. We report the case of a 62-year-old woman who developed postendocarditis submitral left-ventricular pseudoaneurysm, which was diagnosed by means of transesophageal echocardiography. The mitral valve was replaced with a prosthesis, and the mouth of the pseudoaneurysm was closed with a patch. We discuss the possible mechanism of development of this unusual sequela to mitral valve endocarditis and emphasize the diagnostic value of transesophageal echocardiography.