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Updated: May 10, 2026

Utilizing Percutaneous Ventricular Assist Devices in Acute Myocardial Infarction Complicated by Cardiogenic Shock
Published on: June 12, 2021
Percutaneous ventricular assist device and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support in a patient with
Igor D Gregoric1, Tomaz Mesar, Biswajit Kar
1Department of Cardiopulmonary Transplantation and the Center for Cardiac Support, Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA. Igor.D.Gregoric@uth.tmc.edu
Abstract:
We describe the case of a 54-year-old woman with a postinfarction ventricular septal defect (VSD) and ventricular free wall rupture who was stabilized with a percutaneous ventricular assist device (pVAD) to allow for myocardial infarct stabilization. Following the rupture of the right ventricular free wall and cardiopulmonary arrest on hospital day 10, pVAD support was promptly converted to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support for stabilization. After surgical repair was completed, pVAD support was continued for 4 days to allow recovery. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 11 and is alive and well 4 years later. Postinfarction VSD with free wall rupture may be salvaged with pVAD and ECMO support.
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