[Ventricular septal defect after acute myocardial infarction]

We report six patients from our Intensive Care Unit with ventricular septal rupture (VSR) post acute myocardial infarction. There were 3 males and 3 females, mean age 57.8. None of them had prior myocardial infarction. Four patients had recent onset angina and 2 had not previous angina. Inferior wall myocardial infarction was two-fold times more frequent than anterior wall infarction. Three patients had right ventricular infarction. Early severe heart failure was present in 85% of patients, being sudden in onset in 3. In 2 patients surgical closure of VSR was performed, being it successful in 1 with good long-term survival. In conclusion, VSR is a serious complication of acute myocardial infarction. Accuracy in diagnosis and solid therapeutic measures are required.