Clinical characteristics and prognostic importance of anticoagulant use in ischemic left ventricular aneurysm: a retrospective cohort study.

There is insufficient data on systemic embolic events (SSEs) in patients with ischemic left ventricular aneurysm (LVA) concerning the impact of anticoagulation therapy. In this retrospective cohort study with 1043 patients with ischemic LVA, SSEs occurred in 7.2% over 2.4 years. After adjusting for relevant factors, the use of anticoagulants was independently associated with a lower incidence of SSE (3.1% vs. 9.0%, P < 0.001; subdistribution hazard ratios (SHR) 0.21, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.10-0.44, P < 0.001), with no significant difference in net adverse clinical events (NACEs) (10.6% vs. 13.3%, P = 0.225). Specifically, anticoagulation in patients with apical segment akinesis significantly reduced SSEs (3.9% vs. 13.6%, P = 0.002) and NACE rates (7.8% vs. 19.4%, P = 0.002). Major bleeding rates did not significantly differ between groups (5.6% vs. 3.5%, P = 0.111). These findings highlight the SSE risk in ischemic LVA and suggest potential benefits of anticoagulation, particularly in those with apical segment akinesis. These findings need to be validated in independent datasets.

Discontinuation of aspirin before non-cardiac surgery causing ventricular mural thrombus for a patient with left ventricular aneurysm: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular mural thrombus (LVMT) is a life-threatening complication in patients with left ventricular dysfunction. CASE PRESENTATION: A 67-year-old man had a history of penetrating myocardial infarction and left ventricular aneurysm (LVA). The patient was scheduled for a non-cardiac surgery and stopped aspirin for 10 days to reduce the risk of bleeding. Fresh LVMT was revealed via the transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) after the preoperative discontinuation of aspirin. CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative repeated evaluation for the thrombosis by echocardiography is essential in cases of patients with cardiovascular disease undergoing non-cardiac surgery. In high risk patient, during temporary interruption of antiplatelets, bridging with perioperative low-molecular-weight heparin is advisable.

Detection of Active Inflammation Status Around Ventricular Aneurysms in Patients With Cardiac Sarcoidosis.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the pattern of isotope accumulation in the heart on 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) complicated by ventricular aneurysm (VA).Methods and Results:We prospectively enrolled 82 consecutive patients with CS; 54 patients with active CS (presence of abnormal 18F-FDG accumulation in the heart) were subdivided into VA (n=17) and non-VA groups (n=37). Strong 18F-FDG accumulation surrounding the VA and its disappearance in the VA center was observed in all patients with VA, probably because of scar formation at the VA. Peak standardized uptake value was higher around the VA than in the VA center (5.1±2.1 vs. 2.2±0.6, P=0.0003) and the VA center had no 18F-FDG accumulation (VA center: 2.2±0.6 vs. control area: 2.1±0.6, P=0.37). On the other hand, in non-VA patients with LV wall thinning (n=28), 18F-FDG accumulation was significantly high, even in the area of LV wall thinning (LV wall thinning area: 3.1±0.8 vs. control area: 2.0±0.6, P=0.00002). CONCLUSIONS: A pattern of strong 18F-FDG accumulation surrounding the VA and its disappearance in the VA center might be characteristic in patients with CS complicated by VA. Careful attention to FDG uptake would further elucidate CS pathophysiology and aid in the early treatment of VA.

Treatment outcomes and therapeutic evaluations of patients with left ventricular aneurysm.

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to analyze and compare the efficacy of three treatment methods for left ventricular aneurysm (LVA): coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) combined with left ventricular resection, drug treatment, and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: In total, 183 patients with LVA from Fuwai Hospital were divided into three groups according to the treatment method: 51 patients underwent left ventricular resection combined with CABG (CABG-resection group), 65 underwent drug treatment (drug group), and 67 underwent PCI (PCI group). The clinical characteristics and survival rates of the patients were compared among the three groups. RESULTS: The patients' basic data and medical history were analyzed. The postoperative left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were significantly higher than those before surgery, indicating that the left ventricular function markedly improved after the operation. CONCLUSION: Surgery is recommended as the first treatment option for LVA, and conservative therapy can be considered for selected patients. Although the difference was not statistically significant, CABG with left ventricular resection was associated with a better LVEF and LVEDD and higher survival and non-recurrence rates than PCI or drug treatment.

Submitral Left Ventricular Aneurysm Associated with Thrombus.

BACKGROUND: Submitral left ventricular aneurysm is a rarely reported cardiac abnormality that is encountered commonly among blacks. So far, only one case has been reported from Ethiopia and East Africa.Our aim is to report an interesting and rare case that we encountered at St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College. METHODS: In April 2017, a 25-year-old patient havingsubmitral left ventricular aneurysm with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class IV heart failure and mild left ventricular systolic dysfunctionreceived medical treatment at our institution. She had severe mitral regurgitation and aneurysmal thrombus. The diagnosis was easily made using GE Vivid E9 transthoracic echocardiography. She was given drugs for management of heart failure and anticoagulation. RESULTS: Our patient was discharged with a stable condition, and she had no early mortality. At 3 months' follow-up,shehad clinical improvement with NYHA class II heart failure, slight improvement of left ventricular systolic function, and resolution of the left ventricular thrombus. However, there waspersistent severe mitral regurgitation and aneurysm. CONCLUSION: Submitral left ventricular aneurysm is a rare cardiac abnormality. Diagnosis can be easily made with echocardiography. Surgery is the definitive treatment. However, it is not currently available in the country and patients cannot afford treatment abroad.

Endovascular Treatment of 147 Cases of Cavernous Carotid Aneurysms: A Single-Center Experience.

BACKGROUND: Cavernous carotid aneurysms (CCAs) are characterized by pain and neuro-ophthalmologic deficits. The optimal treatment remains unclear, especially for asymptomatic CCAs. This study investigated the efficacy of endovascular treatment for CCAs in our center. METHODS: Data obtained from patients who underwent endovascular treatment for CCAs from July 2011 to July 2014 were reviewed. A retrospective analysis was conducted regarding the general condition, clinical presentation, aneurysm characteristics, therapeutic strategy, and prognosis of CCA patients. RESULTS: One hundred forty-seven patients who exhibited 155 CCAs were included, which comprised 46 asymptomatic and 101 symptomatic CCA cases. Forty-eight cases presented with headache, 5 cases presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage, 20 cases presented with diplopia, 38 cases presented with cranial nerve palsy, and 27 cases presented with ischemic stroke. The mean aneurysm sizes were 15.3 ± 12.2 and 8.1 ± 7.1 mm in the symptomatic and asymptomatic groups, respectively. Different treatments were administered: coil occlusion (n = 15), stent/balloon-assisted coil occlusion (n = 123), and parent artery occlusion (PAO) (n = 17). The PAO-treated group exhibited the highest aneurysm occlusion rate. Follow-up data were available for 131 cases, which included 86 symptomatic and 45 asymptomatic cases. There were no deaths. Among the symptomatic patients, 40.7% improved, 58.1% remained stable, and 1.2% worsened; 12 patients exhibited regrowth and 6 patients had repeated endovascular treatment. The asymptomatic patients remained stable, including 5 patients who exhibited regrowth and 2 patients who had repeated endovascular treatment. CONCLUSION: Endovascular treatment is safe and effective for CCAs and should be considered in patients with minimal complications, as well as in asymptomatic patients with stable symptoms.

Endoscopic Resection of a Giant Left Atrial Appendage.

A 23-year-old woman with a history of arterial hypertension presented to our institution complaining of dyspnea and chest pain. Her workup including echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed an aneurysm of the left atrial appendage. No thrombus was identified in the aneurysm or left atrial appendage, and the patient was in sinus rhythm. She was started on prophylactic anticoagulation, and surgical resection of the aneurysm was recommended as a definitive treatment of this lesion. The surgery was performed using a minimally invasive left-sided thoracoscopy approach. The entire left atrial appendage including the aneurysm was removed at its base using an articulating endoscopic stapler device. On postoperative echocardiography, no residual left atrial appendage tissue was evident. The patient could be taken off oral anticoagulation and left the hospital in good condition.

Concurrent pulmonary thrombosis with systemic embolism: a case report.

Based on different mechanisms of blood coagulation, coexistence of venous thromboembolism and arterial thrombosis in a single individual is extremely rare in clinical practice. Both antiplatelet and anticoagulation therapy should be adopted for patients with arteriovenous embolism. Balancing the risk of ischemia and hemorrhage is especially challenging in these patients in order to achieve an optimal clinical benefit. We report on a 55-year-old female with acute pulmonary embolism (PE), subsequently diagnosed as having acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and a cerebral infarction. Examinations had been carried out, excluding potential arteriovenous shunts, cancer, antiphospholipid syndrome and other common hypercoagulable states. A combination of an anticoagulant drug (rivaroxaban, an Xa inhibitor) and an antiplatelet agent (clopidogrel, an ADP receptor inhibitor) was prescribed with a ß-blocker and atorvastatin. The embolus was gradually shrunk during the next 10 months, and then it turned back into expanding. During the 16 months' follow-up, an aneurysm of left ventricular apex was found through an echocardiogram and an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor was administered. We conclude that combined anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapy significantly relieved the symptoms and improved the prognosis in patients suffering from arteriovenous embolism without any major clinical bleeding events.

Massive interventricular septal aneurysm and stroke in a healthy young patient: guilt by association?

Aneurysm of the membranous interventricular septum is an uncommon cardiac defect that is, on rare occasions, associated with embolic stroke. We describe here the case of an otherwise healthy, 41-year-old man who presented to the hospital with acute-onset confusion and left-sided body weakness attributed to a right middle cerebral artery ischemic stroke. He experienced a nearly complete resolution of deficits following systemic thrombolytic therapy. After an extensive workup, the presumed mechanism of stroke was a thromboembolus that originated in a massive aneurysm of the patient's membranous interventricular septum. Due to a perceived risk of surgical morbidity, the patient was managed conservatively with anticoagulation. He denied further events and reported nearly full function at follow-up.

Submitral left ventricular aneurysm: a rare disease in xanthoderm.

Submitral aneurysm is a rare cardiac disease, predominantly being diagnosed among the black Africans. A Chinese adult was admitted as submitral aneurysm of the left ventricle in our department recently. We present this case for its rarity among Xanthoderm.

Coexistence of idiopathic left ventricular aneurysm and aneurysm of right coronary artery.

A 40-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with dyspnea and atypical chest pain. Left ventricle (LV) apico-lateral wall aneurysm and right coronary artery aneurysm were found. We could find no etiological reason for this condition. Surgical treatment was considered but the patient refused. In this report, we describe an interesting and rare case of idiopathic LV aneurysm accompanied by coronary artery aneurysm.