Pre- and postoperative hemodynamic assessments and survival rates in patients with postinfarction ventricular septal...

Pre- and postoperative hemodynamics were assessed in 14 consecutive patients who developed ventricular septal perforation (VSP) following acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Results were correlated with the surgical outcome and with postoperative clinical improvements. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to the time intervals between the onset of AMI and the operation; acute (within 2 weeks after AMI), subacute (between 2 and 4 weeks) and chronic (after 4 weeks). In the above groups, 6, 2 and 6 patients were included, respectively. Eleven patients had anteroseptal infarction and 3 patients sustained inferior infarction. The survival rates were 33, 50 and 100% in the acute, subacute and chronic groups, respectively with an overall survival rate of 64%. Hemodynamic comparisons between survivors and non-survivors revealed that the systolic aortic pressure and left ventricular stroke volume index were significantly higher and the right ventricular end-diastolic pressure was significantly lower in survivors than in non-survivors (p less than 0.05). Although no statistical significance was obtained, left ventricular end-diastolic volumes and ejection fractions were higher in survivors. No difference was present between survivors and non-survivors in either Qp/Qs, Pp/Ps, Rp/Rs, systolic pulmonary pressure, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure or cardiac index. Patients with low arterial pressure and high right ventricular end-diastolic pressure under intensive medical regimens, indicating the presence of cardiogenic shock and/or associated right ventricular infarction or severe failure, had a high mortality and should be considered for emergency operation. Postoperative hemodynamics improved significantly in all variables measured (p less than 0.05-0.01). Patients with a VSP should all be considered for surgery unless a definite contraindication exists.