Good long-term outcome following surgical repair of post-infarction ventricular septal defect

Management issues during postinfarction ventricular septal defect and role of perioperative optimization: A case series

The development of a myocardial infarction ventricular septal rupture is a rare fatal complication, and the surgical repair is the treatment of choice. In most of the scenarios, the operation will be done as an emergency procedure that carries high mortality. Prognosis of these patients depends on prompt echocardiographic diagnosis and the proactive medical and surgical therapy. More recently, various options have been put forward including the timing for surgery, percutaneous closure devices, and the improved outcome with initial stabilization with medical treatment including mechanical support. In this retrospective case series, we are presenting the management of these patients who presented us in different clinical scenarios and trying to identify the risks for the poor outcome and to formulate a strategy to improve the outcome.

Unplanned staged hybrid management of postmyocardial infarction ventricular septal defect

Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is an uncommon but potentially deadly complication of transmural myocardial infarction (MI). Emergency surgical treatment has traditionally offered the best chance for survival. However, operative intervention is associated with high mortality and can be complicated by a recurrent VSD due to tissue friability around the infarcted area. Percutaneous catheter-based closure techniques can be used to treat these critically ill patients, offering a less invasive and less morbid technique. This case demonstrates the successful application of an unplanned, staged hybrid approach utilizing initial percutaneous and subsequent surgical repair after recovery of tissue integrity.

Acute myocardial infarction: disposition to the operating room?

Given their low incidence, mechanical complications of AMI represent a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for the EP. When the panoply of medical interventions has reached its limitation, surgical treatment plays a role in the management of the patient who has AMI. For patients who have CS and severe compromise of myocardial reserve, surgical intervention might represent the only means of restoring blood flow to the myocardium. For patients who have mechanical complications, correction of the defect before the onset of terminal organ failure might provide long-term survival.

Outcome and profile of ventricular septal rupture with cardiogenic shock after myocardial infarction: a report from the SHOCK Trial Registry. SHould we emergently revascularize Occluded Coronaries in cardiogenic shocK?

OBJECTIVES

We wished to assess the profile and outcomes of patients with ventricular septal rupture (VSR) in the setting of cardiogenic shock (CS) complicating acute myocardial infarction (MI).

BACKGROUND

Cardiogenic shock is often seen with VSR complicating acute MI. Despite surgical therapy, mortality in such patients is high.

METHODS

We analyzed 939 patients enrolled in the SHOCK Trial Registry of CS in acute infarction, comparing 55 patients whose shock was associated with VSR with 884 patients who had predominant left ventricular failure.

RESULTS

Rupture occurred a median 16 h after infarction. Patients with VSR tended to be older (p = 0.053), were more often female (p = 0.002) and less often had previous infarction (p < 0.001), diabetes mellitus (p = 0.015) or smoking history (p = 0.033). They also underwent right-heart catheterization, intra-aortic balloon pumping and bypass surgery significantly more often. Although patients with rupture had less severe coronary disease, their in-hospital mortality was higher (87% vs. 61%, p < 0.001). Surgical repair was performed in 31 patients with rupture (21 had concomitant bypass surgery); 6 (19%) survived. Of the 24 patients managed medically, only 1 survived.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a high in-hospital mortality rate when CS develops as a result of VSR. Ventricular septal rupture may occur early after infarction, and women and the elderly may be more susceptible. Although the prognosis is poor, surgery remains the best therapeutic option in this setting.