[Acute rupture of the interventricular septum in posterior wall infarction (author's transl)]

A rupture of the interventricular septum, as described in a case report, is found in 2% of myocardial infarctions. Clinical symptom loud systolic murmur audible at the left sternal border associated with a thrill and with signs of cardiogenic shock. The diagnosis is made by right heart catheterisation which shows a typical oxygen stepup between right atrium and right ventricle, by which the rupture of the interventricular septum can be differentiated from acute papillary muscle rupture. The therapy should be at first hemodynamic stabilisation by drugs and intraaortic balloon pump for 4 to 6 weeks and then closure of the ventricular septal defect by operation.