A ventricular aneurysm is a bulge or weakened area in the wall of the hearts ventricles, which are the lower pumping chambers of the heart. It is a complication that may occur after a heart attack, where the heart muscle partially dies and a layer of muscle may survive, becoming severely weakened and starting to become an aneurysm. Ventricular aneurysms usually grow at a very slow pace, but can still pose problems. Usually, this type of aneurysm grows in the left ventricle. This bubble has the potential to block blood flow to the rest of the body, and thus limit the patients stamina. In other cases, a similarly developed pseudoaneurysm ("false aneurysm") may burst, sometimes resulting in the death of the patient. Blood clots may also form on the inside of ventricular aneurysms, and form embolisms.

The most common cause of ventricular aneurysms is a heart attack, which causes heart muscle to die and scar tissue to form on the damaged area. Over time, this scar tissue can stretch and become thinner, causing a weakened section of heart muscle. Rarely, a ventricular aneurysm is present at birth, which is a congenital heart condition or birth defect.

Symptoms of a ventricular aneurysm may include arrhythmia, an irregular heartbeat, dependent edema, swelling in the arms or legs, and palpitations, the sensation that the heart rate is skipping, slowing down, or racing. Some aneurysms are small and will not cause symptoms or complications, but a large aneurysm can cause blood clots or stroke, ventricular tachycardia, and heart failure.

Diagnosing a ventricular aneurysm is the first step to developing a treatment plan. Diagnostic and imaging procedures may include angiogram, echocardiogram, electrocardiogram (ECG), heart biopsy, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) . Treatment options may include medications or surgery, depending on the severity of the aneurysm.