Surgical repair of postinfarction ventricular septal rupture

Postinfarction ventricular septal rupture is fatal without surgical repair because of heart failure and secondary multiple organ failure. We investigated surgical results of postinfarction ventricular septal rupture and discussed the surgical strategy of postinfarction ventricular septal rupture.

Twelve patients (mean age 71.3 +/- 7.4 years, with range from 61 to 81 years) underwent surgical repair of postinfarction ventricular septal rupture, from 1990 to 1998 in our Institute. There were 6 women and 6 men. The ventricular septal rupture was anterior in 10 patients and inferior in 2. The operative technique for anterior ventricular septal rupture was reconstruction of the septum with a Dacron patch after infarctectomy, according to the method of Daggett et al. For posterior ventricular septal rupture, reconstruction of the septum with a Dacron patch after infarctectomy was performed and the ventricular incision was closed with a two-layer patch. Coronary artery bypass grafting was performed in 5 patients for severe proximal coronary artery stenosis using saphenous vein grafts.

Overall hospital mortality was 0%. A postoperative residual shunt was recognized in 3 patients, but all were well-controlled conservatively and re-operation was not needed. The patients have been followed up for a mean of 59.5 months. There have been two late deaths due to non-cardiac problems. Acturial survival rate for the 12 patients was 90% at 1 year and 75% at 5 years.

The Daggett method is simple and fast, and is an effective and reliable technique for the repair of ventricular septal rupture.