Abstract

Post-myocardial infarction (MI) ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a rare but potentially catastrophic mechanical complication that occurs in less than 1% of patients following a myocardial infarction and it is associated with a high morbidity and mortality despite improvements in medical and surgical therapies of revascularization. Our article is based on the study of the occurrence of the VSD after a myocardial infarction in 5 patients. With an average age of 60 years, the prognosis was good if the rupture was small and the patient was hemodynamically stable. VSD tends to occur within the first week after acute myocardial infarction. In most cases, there is an immediate decline in hemodynamics which can lead to cardiogenic shock. VSD is a surgical emergency needing immediate treatment in symptomatic patients. The procedure requires the closure of the VSD and coronary artery bypass grafting.