Single Ventricularization Followed by Separation for Infected Ventricular Septal Rupture

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Surgery
• Cardiac Repair
• Medical Innovation

Background:

• Postinfarction ventricular septal rupture (VSR) can lead to severe complications, including patch infection after surgical repair.
• Infected VSR repairs may necessitate extensive debridement, potentially compromising ventricular integrity and leading to a single ventricle.

Observation:

• A 56-year-old male patient developed a patch infection following a double-patch repair of a postinfarction VSR.
• Extensive debridement of the infected patches and interventricular septum resulted in a single ventricle, posing a significant surgical challenge.

Findings:

• A novel biventricular reconstruction was successfully performed using two patches, tricuspid valve replacement, and pacemaker implantation.
• This technique allowed for reliable biventricular reconstruction even in the context of a single ventricle created by debridement.

Implications:

• This surgical approach offers a lifesaving option for patients with postinfarction VSR complicated by fatal infection.
• The described method demonstrates the feasibility of complex cardiac reconstruction in challenging post-surgical scenarios.