A left ventricle pseudoaneurysm (LV PSA) is defined as a free wall rupture of the left ventricle contained by the adjacent pericardial tissue. This rare complication is most commonly encountered following myocardial infarction, trauma, or infection. Surgery is typically warranted to avoid progression to spontaneous rupture, which may potentially lead to cardiac tamponade and death. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging is the modality of choice to characterize left ventricle morphology and function. Accurate distinction between a pseudoaneurysm and a true aneurysm is crucial, since management and prognosis are significantly different between these 2 entities. We present a case of a 63-year-old male heart transplant recipient, admitted for suspicion of acute cellular rejection, with an unexpected finding of a LV PSA.
Keywords: Acute cellular rejection; Cardiac magnetic resonance; Heart transplant; Left ventricle pseudoaneurysm; Left ventricular aneurysm; Myocardial infarction.
© 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of University of Washington.