Prenatal diagnosis of left ventricular aneurysm in the late second trimester: a case report.

Abstract

Fetal echocardiography in a 24-year-old woman at 24 weeks' gestation demonstrated a left ventricular aneurysm and pericardial effusion. The patient was treated with oral digoxin followed by intensive antepartum monitoring. Intrauterine fetal demise occurred at 31 weeks. The autopsy confirmed the presence of an apical left ventricular aneurysm. This is a rare congenital cardiac anomaly, which has been reported in only three prior cases. This represents the earliest prenatal diagnosis of this condition.