A giant pseudoaneurysm becoming apparent after cardiac resynchronisation therapy.

ABSTRACT

A 57-year-old male patient with coronary artery disease developed a pseudoaneurysm after an inferior infarct in 1997. He underwent coronary bypass surgery and resection of the pseudoaneurysm located at the inferior wall. Unfortunately, the pseudoaneurysm recurred due to dehiscence of the patch, necessitating a second surgical intervention. After six years he developed progressive heart failure due to severe left ventricular dysfunction. He was referred to our institution for cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) because of drug refractory heart failure which was associated with a left bundle branch block, ejection fraction of 12%, and a NYHA class IV status. After successful implantation of a biventricular pacemaker, a remarkable clinical recovery was observed. Left ventricular function improved and echocardiography now demonstrated that the pseudoaneurysm at the inferior wall had recurred for the third time. This diagnosis could not be established by preoperative echocardiography.