[Ventricular pseudoaneurysm after acute myocardial infarction].

Left ventricular aneurysm is a common complication of myocardial infarction. The most common type of aneurysm is a true aneurysm which forms after transmural infarction by gradual thinning and expanding of the scarred left ventricular wall. Its distinctive features are that of a large-mouthed sac containing all layers of ventricular wall. A rare type of aneurysm is the "false" or pseudoaneurysm of the left ventricle that develops from rupture of recently infarcted myocardial wall forming a localized haemopericardium confined by parietal pericardium. Pathologically, there is a small narrow-necked channel connecting the ventricle with a large sac consisting of only clot and fibrous pericardial tissue without any myocardial elements. Pseudoaneurysms are distinguished from the true variety by their marked tendency to rupture. Because surgical repair of a pseudoaneurysm is often successful, it is important to make the diagnosis of this entity as early as possible. Two-dimensional echocardiography in combination with Doppler-flow is the mainstay of clinical diagnosis.