ventricular aneurysm, a localized dilation or saccular protrusion in the wall of a ventricle, occurring most often after a myocardial infarction. Scar tissue is formed in response to the inflammatory changes of the infarction. This tissue weakens the myocardium, allowing its walls to bulge outward when the ventricle contracts. A typical sign of the lesion is a recurrent ventricular arrhythmia that does not respond to treatment with conventional antiarrhythmic drugs. Diagnostic measures are echocardiography and cardiac catheterization. Treatment may involve surgical removal of the scar tissue. Also called cardiac aneurysm.
