Asymptomatic left ventricular aneurysm: a sequela of blunt chest trauma.

A routine chest X-ray taken four months after blunt chest trauma revealed a left ventricular aneurysm in a totally asymptomatic patient. At surgery a thin-walled, clot-filled aneurysm was successfully removed. This case demonstrates the need for careful follow-up of all patients sustaining blunt chest trauma even though the initial cardiac evaluation may be negative. Our feeling that all such aneurysms should be treated surgically is further reinforced by our operative findings.