Left ventricular outflow tract pseudoaneurysm is an uncommon but potentially catastrophic complication of aortic valve surgery, aortic valve endocarditis or chest trauma. We describe a case of a left ventricular outflow tract pseudoaneurysm 1 month after an aortic valve replacement that caused a systolic compression of mitral valve and a severe regurgitation. The diagnosis was confirmed using transoesophageal echocardiography, magnetic resonance image and intraoperative endoscopy. Surgical repair of the pseudoaneurysm corrected the mitral regurgitation.

In 19 human fetal and newborn hearts with atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD), not associated with other anomalies, the two ventricles were studied morphometrically. A total of 17 different parameters were studied: nine in the right ventricle and eight in the left. In the right ventricle we analyzed ventricular wall thickness, length of right ventricular inflow and outflow tracts, and volume of right ventricular inflow and outflow tracts. The data for these parameters were compared with the patterns of normality published previously, and the volumetric data were compared with patterns of normality published previously by us. The ventricular inflow tract was shorter than the outflow tract, the difference being especially significant in the left ventricle. The length of the diaphragmatic wall of the heart in both the right and left ventricle was equal to the sum of the length of the inflow tract and the thickness of the ventricular wall at the apex.

A morphometric study was performed in 18 human hearts with atrioventricular septal defect not associated with other anomalies; 16 hearts had common atrioventricular orifices, and 2 presented separate right and left atrioventricular orifices. A total of eight parameters were analyzed, characterizing ventricular wall thickness, length and circumference of the inflow and outflow tracts, and circumference of the left orifice and aortic orifice. The data were compared with previously published patterns of normality. In addition, the volume of the aortic outflow tract was calculated. The inflow tract was shorter than the outflow tract, and the length of the diaphragmatic wall was equal to the sum of the lengths of the inflow tract and ventricular wall thickness at the level of the apex.