Percutaneous closure of post-myocardial infarction ventricular septal rupture - A single centre experience

Post-infarction ventricular septal rupture (VSR) is a rare but lethal mechanical complication of an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Survival to 1 month without intervention is 6%. Given high surgical mortality, transcatheter closure has emerged as a potential strategy in selected cases. Indian data on percutaneous device closure of post AMI-VSR is scarce hence we report our single-centre experience with ASD occluder device (Amplatzer and lifetech) for closure of post-AMI VSR.

In this single-centre, retrospective, cohort study, patients who underwent transcatheter closure of post-MI VSR between 2005 and 2015 at KIMS Hospital were included. Primary outcome was mortality rate at 30 days. Seven patients were included in the study (mean age, 58.29±9.8 years). 5 patients had anterior wall myocardial infarction (AWMI) & 2 had inferior wall myocardial infarction (IWMI). None of the patients received thrombolytic therapy. Device was successfully placed in 5 patients (71.4%) with minimal residual shunt in 2 patients (40%). Out of 7 cases 2 patients survived (29% survival rate) and are doing well on follow up at 1 and 5 years respectively. Cardiogenic shock, IWMI and serpigenious form of VSR were associated with poor outcomes. Delayed revascularization (PCI) was associated with better outcomes.

Percutaneous closure is a potential technique in a selected group of patients. The presence of cardiogenic shock, IWMI and serpigeneous form of VSR constitutes important risk factors for mortality. Device implantation is in general successful with few procedure-related complications and should be applied on a case-by-case basis.