[Interventricular rupture following myocardial infarction. Surgical treatment and long-term follow-up]

The natural course of post myocardial infarction ventricular septal defect is towards cardiogenic shock and death. 50% in the first week, over 90% a year latter. Between 1973-1989, 28 patients where operated on. Before surgery 14 patients (53%) where in Killip IV, 5 patients (19%) in III, 5 patients (19%) in II and 2 patients in I. The repair was accomplished under hypothermia and cardioplegia, with the insertion of a Teflon patch to close the defect in 20 patients (70%). Complementary procedures (CABG, Pacemaker, repair of dissections) were performed in 12 patients (47%). Three patients (10%) could not be weaned from the pump; another 10 (36%) died before discharge: 2 with multisystem failure and sepsis, the other 8 with cardiogenic shock (4 with residual VSD). The only independent predictor of operative mortality, by univariate analysis, was preoperatory cardiogenic shock. All 15 survivors (100%) where followed between 5 months and 14.5 years (mean 104.5 months). Two patients died at 4 years, one at 10, another at 10.5 years. The actuarial probability of being alive after discharge was 100% at 4 years, 75% at 5, and 50% at 10 years. At last follow up only 2 patients had mild dyspnea, the remaining where asymptomatic. Surgical treatment provides an opportunity to improve this otherwise dismal survival and offers a surprising good long term result. An early diagnosis and efficient repair, before the onset of cardiogenic shock, should provide better results.