Left ventricular aneurysm

Left ventricular aneurysm (LVA)

A left ventricular aneurysm can occur soon after a heart attack if the left ventricular wall is damaged

About

Left ventricular aneurysms can happen as a result of a heart attack. If an area of the heart muscle is particularly weakened it can lead to an aneurysm. This can be treated with medicine. Alternatively, your consultant may recommend a surgical procedure depending on your health.

Need to know

Symptoms of left ventricular aneurysm

There are often no specific symptoms relating to a left ventricular aneurysm but they may relate to impaired heart functionality. Possible symptoms might include:

extreme tiredness and/or breathlessness
leg, ankle or abdomen swelling
irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
heart palpitations

Diagnosis

Your consultant will discuss your symptoms with you. They may then offer an electrocardiogram (ECG) to assess your heart's electrical activity.

Potential treatment options

Your consultant will discuss your left ventricular aneurysm treatment options with you. These might include medication to control blood flow. For example, an anticoagulant may be prescribed to help prevent blood clots forming. In other cases, your consultant may recommend a surgical procedure to cut out the aneurysm.