Staten Island Heart's Doctors, Board Certified Cardiologists, Specializing in the treatment, care and prevention of Cardiovascular Disease. Located in Staten Island, New York.
Left Ventricular Aneurysm
What is an aneurysm of the left ventricle?
The left ventricle is the main pumping chamber of the heart. It pumps blood full of oxygen to the body. There are three arteries that supply the left ventricle with blood. When one of these becomes blocked, a heart attack can result with a portion of the left ventricle damaged. In the process of healing, the damaged portion of the heart wall becomes scarred and thinned out. Occasionally this thinned segment becomes stretched out and bulges like a blister on an inner tube. This is a left ventricular aneurysm. Most people who have a heart attack recover without developing an aneurysm. However, up to 25% of people with a large area of heart muscle death from a heart attack develop aneurysms. The aneurysms range from very small (thumbnail size) to huge (doubling the size of the heart). Aneurysms generally form and get bigger during the first few months after a heart attack. Fortunately, left ventricular aneurysms rarely rupture but they can affect the heart's performance.
Symptoms of left ventricular aneurysm:
Congestive heart failure, or the inability of the heart to pump effectively, is a severe complication of a large left ventricular aneurysm. The remaining normal heart muscle must not only pump blood out to the body but it must fill the aneurysm as well. This added load is sometimes too great for the muscle, and congestive failure is the result.
Because blood is stagnant within aneurysms, blood clots often form within them. Fragments of these clots can break loose and can cause strokes. Left ventricular aneurysms often cause heart rhythm abnormalities involving the left ventricle. These rhythm disturbances, ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation can result in congestive heart failure, fainting episodes and sudden cardiac death.
Diagnosis:
A cardiac ultrasound (echocardiogram) is a useful non-invasive way to study left ventricular aneurysms. Cardiac catheterization may be needed to further study the aneurysm. Cardiac catheterization is a test in which long, thin tubes are injected through the blood vessels into the heart. X-ray movies of dye injected into the heart will outline the aneurysm and the coronary arteries. The test gives detailed information about the inner workings of the heart and is necessary if surgical correction is contemplated.
Treatment:
Because the underlying cause of left ventricular aneurysm is a heart attack, the best treatment is prevention. By controlling the risk factors that lead to hardening of the arteries, heart attacks can often be prevented. For those who have a heart attack, prompt treatment can often minimize the amount of damaged caused and, therefore, prevent aneurysm formation. Once an aneurysm is present, treatment depends upon the consequences of the aneurysm. If there is congestive heart failure, surgical resection of the aneurysm may be necessary. Coronary artery bypass surgery is usually carried out at the same time. Often, blood thinners are used to prevent clotting within the aneurysm. If there are significant heart rhythm disturbances, specialized treatment may be required.
Symptoms of left ventricular aneurysm:
Congestive heart failure, or the inability of the heart to pump effectively, is a severe complication of a large left ventricular aneurysm. The remaining normal heart muscle must not only pump blood out to the body but it must fill the aneurysm as well. This added load is sometimes too great for the muscle, and congestive failure is the result.
Because blood is stagnant within aneurysms, blood clots often form within them. Fragments of these clots can break loose and can cause strokes. Left ventricular aneurysms often cause heart rhythm abnormalities involving the left ventricle. These rhythm disturbances, ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation can result in congestive heart failure, fainting episodes and sudden cardiac death.
Diagnosis:
A cardiac ultrasound (echocardiogram) is a useful non-invasive way to study left ventricular aneurysms. Cardiac catheterization may be needed to further study the aneurysm. Cardiac catheterization is a test in which long, thin tubes are injected through the blood vessels into the heart. X-ray movies of dye injected into the heart will outline the aneurysm and the coronary arteries. The test gives detailed information about the inner workings of the heart and is necessary if surgical correction is contemplated.
Treatment:
Because the underlying cause of left ventricular aneurysm is a heart attack, the best treatment is prevention. By controlling the risk factors that lead to hardening of the arteries, heart attacks can often be prevented. For those who have a heart attack, prompt treatment can often minimize the amount of damaged caused and, therefore, prevent aneurysm formation. Once an aneurysm is present, treatment depends upon the consequences of the aneurysm. If there is congestive heart failure, surgical resection of the aneurysm may be necessary. Coronary artery bypass surgery is usually carried out at the same time. Often, blood thinners are used to prevent clotting within the aneurysm. If there are significant heart rhythm disturbances, specialized treatment may be required.
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