Summary
Although left ventricular aneurysmectomy (LVA) is a common surgical procedure, the
late functional and hemodynamic results have not been well defined. This presentation
describes our results with LVA in 135 patients operatcd between 1969 and 1979. Associated
procedures were performed in 57 (42%) including coronary bypass grafting in 50, valve
replacement in 5, closure of ventricular septal defect in 2, or combinations of these
in 3 patients. One hundred four of the 122 hospital survivors were followed for from
2 to 107 months (mean = 37 months).
There were 13 hospital deaths (9.6%), 12 late deaths (9.8%) and an actuarial 5-year
survival rate of 77%. Clinical improvement of preoperative heart failure occurred
in 82%, and of angina in 70%. Only 33 patients (30%) returned to normal work.
Bicycle exercise testing in 70 patients showed normal working capacity in 41 (59%).
Recatheterization in 49 patients showed no significant changes in left ventricular
end-diastolic pressure or cardiac index, and a borderline reduction of the total ejection
fraction. Ventricular arrhythmias were detected by long-term ECG in 70% of all patients
after surgery. Of those with preoperative life-threatening arrythmias, rhythm improvement
was noted in 50%, but only 2 of 13 patients were free of arrhythmias after operation.
This study demonstrates a greater frequency of postoperative symptomatic and functional
improvement as compared to hemodynamic and ECG improvement. Ventricular tachyarrhythmias
originating from post-infarct scars increased intra- and postoperative risk and aneurysmectomy
alone is considered insufficient for treatment of these disturbances. Further electrophysiologic
investigations are needed and additional surgical measures may be neccssary to improve
the subset of patients with life-threatening arrhythmias.
Key words
Left ventricular aneurysmectomy - Functional studies - Late results
