The defect on left or right ventricle of the heart due to thickening of the heart muscles is ventricular aneurysm. It commonly occurs in left ventricle.

Left ventricular aneurysm may occur as a result of – Complication of myocardial infarction • Trauma • Hypertrophic cardiomyopathies • Myocarditis • Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia • Glycogen storage disease • Chagas’ disease • Congenital left ventricular aneurysm

If ventricular aneurysm is not treated on time, following complications may occur - • Cardiac failure • Ventricular arrhythmia • Systemic embolism • Ventricular rupture • Systemic embolism

Given below are the tests to diagnose ventricular aneurysm – • Computed tomography • Radiography • Magnetic resonance imaging • Ultrasonography • Angiography

If aneurysm is small it may not cause any symptoms, large aneurysms have symptoms such as – • Stroke • Heart failure • Ventricular tachycardia If aneurysm develops after heart attack, the symptoms are – • Irregular heart beat • Swelling in arms or legs • Heart murmur • Palpitations

Treatment depends on the size of aneurysm, location and the overall health of the patient. Accordingly the following treatment are advised- • Lifestyle changes • Medication • Surgery

Ventricular reconstructive surgery is done to remove the scar tissue and repair the heart to function it normally.

The surgery is performed under general anaesthesia. The surgeon removes the scar tissue and connects the healthy tissue together to improve the blood flow. After surgery you are kept in intensive care unit for 5-7 days.

If timely treatment is not taken, it may cause ventricular aneurysm rupture.

Ventricular aneurysm grows mostly in left ventricle. Hence it is commonly called left ventricular aneurysm.

Heart muscles do not have the ability to regenerate. Thus ventricular aneurysm cannot repair itself.

Large aneurysm is at a greater risk to rupture and can be life threatening.