Traumatic ventricular septal defect and delayed post-pericardiotomy ventricular herniation

A knife wound of the heart produced a ventricular septal defect. Surgical repair of a myocardial laceration and pericardiotomy for relief of cardiac tamponade were performed. Progressive exercise intolerance developed over an 8-year period. In addition, the patient experienced intermittent partial cardiac herniation resulting in angina-like chest pain. The patient is now asymptomatic after correction of the pericardial defect and closure of the ventricular septal defect.