Surgical Results for Left Ventricular Thrombus Formation after Myocardial Infarction

: We aimed to review the surgical results of left ventricular restoration for left ventricular thrombus after myocardial infarction. A retrospective study was conducted on 5 patients who underwent thrombus removal and left ventricular restoration for left ventricular thrombus after myocardial infarction. Two patients were in an acute phase of myocardial infarction, and 3 in a chronic phase. Cerebral infarction occurred in 3 patients preoperatively. Median observational period was 1.0 year. Left ventricular thrombus removal with septal anterior ventricular exclusion technique was performed. Concomitant procedure included 3 coronary artery bypass graftings and 1 left ventricular apex ablation. There was no perioperative bleeding event. The 30-day mortality occurred in 1 patient. There has been no systemic embolic complication, left ventricular dysfunction, nor recurrence of left ventricular thrombus during the observational period. The postoperative left ventricular volume reduced in 3 of the 4 survivors. The left ventricular ejection fraction increased postoperatively in 3 of the 4 survivors. In conclusion, the septal anterior ventricular exclusion technique is an effective method for controlling perioperative bleeding, removing left ventricular thrombus completely, and preventing a recurrence of left ventricular thrombus and systemic embolism. This procedure also contributed to reducing the left ventricular volume, resulting in the improvement of the left ventricular function.