Anatomopathological Session Case 3 / 2009 - A 75 - Year - Old Man with Heart Failure due to Previous Extensive Infarction and Ventricular Aneurysm Formation

Section Editor: Alfredo José Mansur ([email protected]) Associated Editors: Desidério Favarato ([email protected]) Vera Demarchi Aiello ([email protected]) A 75-year-old man sought medical assistance due to hemoptysis and general malaise. The patient presented dyspnea triggered by moderate exertion at the end of April. A week after the symptom onset, the dyspnea increased and started to be triggered by mild exertion. He also suffered a syncopal episode, which prompted him to seek emergency medical attention. Two weeks later he sought medical assistance at Instituto do Coracao (InCor – The Heart Institute) due to worsening of the dyspnea and a sensation of suffocation in the chest. The physical examination (May 10, 2008) showed a heart rate (HR) of 88 bpm and blood pressure (BP) of 90/60 mm Hg. The lung examination disclosed pulmonary rales. The remainder of the examination did not reveal any other alterations. The electrocardiogram (May 10, 2008) showed sinus rhythm; HR at 88 bpm; PR interval of 203 ms; QRS duration of 68 ms; low-voltage QRS complex in the frontal plane; extensive anterior and inferior-wall areas that were electrically inactive; and ST-segment elevation from V1 to V6 and in I aVL, with positive T waves from V1 to V6 (Figure 1). The laboratory assessment (May 10, 2008) showed glycemia of 94 mg/dl; urea of 43 mg/dl; creatinine of 1.07 mg/dl; sodium of 137 mEq/l; potassium of 4.5 mEq/l; hemoglobin of 12.6 g/dl; leukocytes at 6,500/mm3; platelets at 286,000/m3; INR of 1.1; APTT (patient/control ratio) of 1.12; CKMB of 6.46 ng/ml and troponin of 6.27 ng/ml. The chest X-ray (05. 10. 2008) showed cardiomegaly at the expense of the left ventricle (LV). The echocardiogram (05. 14. 2008) showed an enlarged left atrium (45 mm). The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 20%. Akinesis of the LV septal and anterior segments and signs suggestive of intracavitary thrombi in the apical region, one measuring 2.4 x 5 mm, fixed, and a mobile one in middle septal segment measuring 1.0 x 0.7 mm, were diagnosed. There was slight pericardial effusion. The pulmonary artery pressure was estimated at 30 mmHg.