High incidence of sudden death late after anterior LV-aneurysm repair.

Objectives: Sudden death due to ventricular arrhythmias occurs frequently among patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure (CHF). In patients with left ventricular (LV) aneurysms, LV-aneurysm repair (LVAR) reduces LV-size and ameliorates symptoms of CHF, but the incidence of late sudden death is unknown, especially after LVAR without concomitant anti-arrhythmic therapy.

Methods: Between June 1993 and June 1999, 147 patients (70% males; 62+/-9 years) with CHF (median: NYHA III) due to anterior LV-aneurysms underwent LVAR.

Results of endoaneurysmorrhaphy: does the location of the aneurysm matter?

Endoaneurysmorrhaphy is mostly performed on anterior-septal left ventricular (LV) aneurysms. It may also be applied to posterior aneurysms, which is technically more challenging. Whether the surgical risk is the same, irrespective of the location of the aneurysm, has not been studied before.