Left ventricular aneurysm. Ten years' experience in surgical treatment of 244 cases. Improved clinical status, hemodynamics, and long-term longevity.

This report reviews 244 patients with postinfarction left ventricular aneurysm operated upon between 1971 and 1980. The location of the left ventricular aneurysm was anteroapical (64.7 %), apical (21.3 %), posteroinferior (8.6%), or lateral (5.3%). The aneurysm was caused by a significant lesion of two coronary arteries in 38.9%, of three in 33.6%, and of a single left anterior descending artery in 26.6%. The indication for operation was angina (61.1 %), congestive heart failure (9.8%), intractable ventricular arrhythmias (7.8%), or a combination of the above (20.9%). Of the 218 patients who survived the perioperative period (mean 56.5 months’ follow-up), 85.3% were relieved of angina and 70.5% were in Class I or II of the New York Heart Association, as compared to 16% prior to operation. Cardiac index increased from 2.4 ± 0.7 L/min/BSA before left ventricular aneurysmectomy to 3 ± 0.5 L/min/BSA (p