Successful repair of a ruptured ventricular septum complicating a recent myocardial infarction

Rupture of interventricular septum or disruption of the competence of the mitral valve may complicate a myocardial infarction. The patient does not usually survive. A corrective open-heart surgical procedure, although of high risk, may prevent the rapid deterioration of the patient. A description is presented of a 68 year old man who suffered a rupture of the interventricular septum following occlusion of a posterior coronary artery. The details of the differential diagnosis, the cardiac catheterization, and the unusual surgical approach to the intracardiac defect are presented. The patient recovered after successful closure of the defect.