Delayed pulmonary complications of ventricular aneurysm repair. Report of two cases and review of the literature.

Two patients referred to Ochsner Foundation Hospital after ventricular aneurysm repair had the delayed pulmonary complications of massive hemoptysis and bronchiectasis. Only three cases of infected ventricular aneurysm repair have been reported previously. The felt buttress used in aneurysm repair may be the seat of indolent infection or it may erode into pulmonary tissue with secondary infection. For anatomic reasons the lingular segment of the lung appears to be at increased risk of involvement. Symptoms led to the correct diagnosis in one case at 7 months and in the other at 3 years after the original operation. Infection may be prevented by appropriate measures. However, should such a catastrophe occur, aggressive surgical therapy with removal of all foreign material is mandatory.