Which of the following is a mechanical complication of myocardial infarction?

• A. Dysrhythmias
• B. Ventricular aneurysm
• C. Pulmonary embolism
• D. Hypertension

Answer: (B)

A ventricular aneurysm is the correct choice because it represents a structural, mechanical change in the heart after an infarct. When the myocardium heals from a transmural MI, scar tissue forms and can thicken and stretch, creating a thin, noncontractile bulge of the left ventricle that may protrude during systole. This bulging is a mechanical defect of the heart wall, and it typically develops weeks to months after the event, contributing to heart failure, arrhythmias, and mural thrombus risk.

Dysrhythmias are electrical disturbances arising from impaired conduction or automaticity, not a structural defect. Pulmonary embolism is a thromboembolic event in the lungs, not a direct mechanical complication of the infarcted heart. Hypertension is a systemic pressure problem, not a consequence of the infarct’s mechanical remodeling.