Modified Infarct Exclusion Technique for Repair of Postinfarction Ventricular Septal Rupture

Repair of ventricular septal rupture after acute myocardial infarction remains a surgical challenge. Several techniques for the closure of these defects have been described. This report discusses an infarct exclusion technique modified from the one described by Tirone David and associates. In this technique two separate pericardial patches are used. The first patch excludes the rupture. The second patch is sutured to the margins of the first patch and thus provides strength to the margins of the first patch. The repair is simple and durable and has reduced the incidence of residual ventricular septal defects and patch dehiscence.