Ruptured Left Ventricular Pseudoaneurysm: A Complication of Power Injector Assisted Ventricular Angiography

Left ventricular pseudoaneurysm; also referred to as contained left ventricular wall rupture, is a rare complication that is reported in about 0.2 to 0.3 percent of all myocardial infarction patients. Since it has a high risk of fatal rupture, early surgical repair is recommended once pseudoaneurysm is diagnosed. In this case report, we are describing a case of a left ventricular inferior wall pseudoaneurysm which was diagnosed by angiography, and was complicated by rupture and cardiac tamponade shortly after the patient received a powered assisted left ventricular angiogram. This case exemplifies that pseudoaneurysm represents a part of the ongoing process of ventricular rupture, that begins with a small tear in the endocardium and then extends to the myocardium and the pericardial cavity, causing hemopericardium and cardiac tamponade. Therefore, earlier recognition and urgent surgical repair can be lifesaving.