Evolution of fetal ventricular aneurysms and diverticula of the heart: an echocardiographic study.

Due to the rarity of congenital ventricular diverticula and aneurysms, their natural history remains unclear. An excellent prognosis has been suggested for those cases diagnosed during fetal life: From October 1992 to January 1996 seven fetuses were diagnosed with ventricular diverticula or aneurysms. Gestational age ranged from 18 to 36 weeks. The indications for fetal echocardiogram were cardiomegaly, abnormal four-chamber view, a large pericardial effusion, and hydrothorax. Echocardiography revealed a moderate sized apical left ventricular aneurysm (2), a small subvalvular right ventricular diverticulum (1), small apical right ventricular diverticulum (2), a large submitral left ventricular aneurysm (1), and a large diverticulum arising from the lateral free wall of the left ventricle (1). Decreased left ventricular function was detected in three fetuses with left ventricular aneurysms. Two fetuses with large lesions, developed hydrops and died in utero. Postnatal echocardiograms confirmed prenatal findings in all survivors. All infants remained asymptomatic, with age on follow-up from 8 to 24 months. An accurate diagnosis of ventricular diverticula and aneurysms is feasible prenatally. Outcome depends on the size and progression of the lesion. The presence of a large pericardial effusion in three cases with a diverticula was noted.