Surgical treatment of ventricular septal defect following myocardial infarction: a case report

Medicina (Kaunas). 2013;49(4):200-5.

Abstract

Ventricular septal defect after myocardial infarction is a rare but often life-threatening mechanical complication. The keys of management are a prompt diagnosis of ventricular septal defect and an aggressive approach to stabilize patient's hemodynamics. Invasive monitoring, judicious use of inotropes and vasodilators, and an intra-aortic balloon pump are recommended for the optimal support of patient's hemodynamics. The best results are achieved if optimally medically managed patients survive at least 4 weeks before elective surgery necessary for scar formation in a friable infarcted tissue. We report a case of acute myocardial infarction complicated by the rupture of ventricular septum. Instead of attempting an immediate surgical closure of ventricular septal defect, the postponed surgery was successfully performed 3 weeks after the occurrence of ventricular septal defect. Preoperatively, clinical and hemodynamic conditions of the patient were maintained stable with the support of an intra-aortic balloon pump and inotropes.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Female
  • Heart Rupture, Post-Infarction / complications*
  • Heart Rupture, Post-Infarction / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular / etiology*
  • Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular / surgery*
  • Hemodynamics
  • Humans
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Ultrasonography