Endoaneurysmorrhaphy for left ventricular aneurysm. Follow-up in 69 patients.

We reviewed the cases of 69 consecutive patients who underwent physiologic reconstruction of the left ventricular cavity with an endoventricular patch (endoaneurysmorrhaphy) after aneurysmectomy. Eight patients had isolated endoaneurysmorrhaphy, 60 patients had concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting, and 1 patient had concomitant closure of an atrial septal defect. The primary indications for operation were angina pectoris (New York Heart Association functional class I or II) in 42 patients and dyspnea (functional class III or IV) in 27 patients. The preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction evaluated with ventriculography was 28.95% +/- 7.27% (mean +/- standard error of the mean). The global perioperative mortality rate was 2.8%. Total follow-up was 139.3 patient-years. The late mortality rate was 4.3% per patient-year. A marked increase was found in the mean postoperative left ventricular ejection fraction of the patients: 41.91% +/- 11.83%. Survivors were interviewed in person: their functional status was class I or II in 58 patients and class III in 3 patients. We conclude that left ventricular endoaneurysmorrhaphy results in satisfactory functional improvement and can be performed with relatively low early and late mortality rates.