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(Circulation. 1965;32:76.)
© 1965 American Heart Association, Inc.

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Postinfarction Ventricular Septal Defect

PIETER M. BARNARD M.B., CH.B.¹ JOHN H. KENNEDY M.D.¹

¹ From the Department of Surgery, Western Reserve University School of Medicine, and Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital, Cleveland 9, Ohio.

A series of four patients who died following rupture of the ventricular septum due to myocardial infarction has been reported. One of these died of hemorrhage due to a defective clotting mechanism 8 hours after successful surgical repair.

The 13 cases of surgical repair of postinfarction ventricular septal defect reported by other authors are reviewed.

The time interval is important and preferably 3 to 6 months should elapse following myocardial infarction before surgery is undertaken.

Surgery should be considered in every patient diagnosed as having an acute septal rupture following myocardial infarction who fails to respond to vigorous medical treatment.