Pseudoaneurysm of the left ventricle following mitral valve replacement. Report of two cases and review of the literature.

Two cases of left ventricular (LV) pseudoaneurysm following mitral valve replacement (MVR) are presented. In one patient the false aneurysm developed after an initially successful correction of intraoperative left ventricular wall rupture while the other case resulted from an apparently uncomplicated MVR performed because of staphylococcal endocarditis. Both cases were detected by combined 2-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography. The operative treatment was similar in both patients. After extirpation of the old prosthesis, the orifice of the pseudoaneurysm was closed from inside the heart, either with a Dacron patch or using interrupted sutures supported by a teflon pledget. One of the patients died one month postoperatively but the other one recovered and is clinically well 6 months after repair. She has, however, a residual communication between the LV and the pseudoaneurysm.