New technique for repair of posterior left ventricular rupture

A case is presented of posterior left ventricular rupture occurring from resection of intramyocardial calcification during mitral valve replacement. The laceration was obvious on the operating table with discontinuation of cardiopulmonary bypass, but attempts at simple closure with buttressd sutures were unsuccessful. The ventricular defect was repaired by insertion of a low-porosity Dacron graft. A saphenous vein bypass graft was also placed between the aorta and circumflex coronary artery.