The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 27, 445-450, Copyright © 1979 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Factors influencing better results in operation for postinfarction ventricular aneurysms
R Rivera and JL Delcan
A series of 66 consecutive patients operated on for postinfarction
ventricular aneurysm is reviewed with regard to the factors influencing the
progressive decline of mortality (3.2% in the last 31 patients seen). The
method of myocardial protection has a significant influence on mortality,
which was 45% in patients operated on with aortic cross- clamping under
conventional hypothermia and 5% in patients operated on under profound
local hypothermia. Associated revascularization with vein bypass graft was
performed in 28 patients, without mortality. The technique of
aneurysmectomy adapted to the extension and location of the fibrotic scar
is described, with exclusion of the septal portion of the aneurysm in 85%
of the patients. In 36 patients who had postoperative cardiac
catheterization, this technique produced normal ejection fraction and near
normal left ventricular volumes