Staphylococcal postoperative subannular left ventricular false aneurysm.

A 37-year-old male with acute complicated methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus mitral valve endocarditis underwent urgent valve replacement with a bileaflet prosthesis. The postoperative course was complicated with fever and heart failure. Echocardiography showed a large subannular false aneurysm of the left ventricle. Three weeks later resection and closure of the defect with a patch made from a cryopreserved thoracic aorta homograft were performed. The most significant aspects of this rare complication are commented on. Copyright 2002 Elsevier Science B.V.