Rupture of the infarcted interventricular septum.

R UPTURE of the interventricular septum, one of the most dramatic complications of myocardial infaretion, has become a wellrecognized clinical entity that is readily confirmed by cardiac catheterization. Since the usual course is that of rapid deterioration and early death, surgical repair of the defect is indicated once the diagnosis has been established. The medical literature contains only a few reports of attempts at surgical repair, with prolonged survival in just two cases. Recently successful repair of a ruptured interventricular septum due to myocardial infarction was accomplished at the University of Oregon Medical School Hospital. The details of this case, including surgical technic and physiologic data, constitute this report. Previously published physiologic studies and surgical treatment of this entity are reviewed.