Surgery of postinfarction ventricular septal rupture: The effect of David infarct exclusion versus Daggett direct septal closure on early and late outcomes

Ventricular septal defect complicating acute myocardial infarction: diagnosis and management. A Clinical Consensus Statement of the Association for Acute CardioVascular Care (ACVC) of the ESC, the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI) of the ESC and the ESC Working Group on Cardiovascular Surgery

Ventricular septal defects are a rare complication after acute myocardial infarction with a mortality close to 100% if left untreated. However, even surgical or interventional closure is associated with a very high mortality and currently no randomized controlled trials are available addressing the optimal treatment strategy of this disease. This state-of-the-art review and clinical consensus statement will outline the diagnosis, hemodynamic consequences and treatment strategies of ventricular septal defects complicating acute myocardial infarction with a focus on current available evidence and a focus on major research questions to fill the gap in evidence.

Ventricular Septal Rupture After Myocardial Infarction: JACC Focus Seminar 3/5

Ventricular septal rupture remains a dreadful complication of acute myocardial infarction. Although less commonly observed than during the prethrombolytic era, the condition remains complex and is often associated with refractory cardiogenic shock and death. Corrective surgery, although superior to medical treatment, has been associated with high perioperative morbidity and mortality. Transcatheter closure techniques are less invasive to surgery and offer a valuable alternative, particularly in patients with cardiogenic shock. In these patients, percutaneous mechanical circulatory support represents a novel opportunity for immediate stabilization and preserved end-organ function. Multimodality imaging can identify favorable septal anatomy for the most appropriate type of repair. The heart team approach will define optimal timing for surgery vs percutaneous repair. Emerging concepts are proposed for a deferred treatment approach, including orthotropic heart transplantation in ideal candidates. Finally, for futile situations, palliative care experts and a medical ethics team will provide the best options for end-of-life clinical decision making.

Perioperative Challenges and Outcome After Surgical Correction of Post-myocardial Infarction Ventricular Septal Rupture: A Retrospective Single Center Study

BACKGROUND

Ventricular septal rupture (VSR) is a rare but grave complication of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). It is a mechanical complication of myocardial infarction where patients may present either in a compensated state or in cardiogenic shock. The aim of the study is to determine the in-hospital mortality. The study also aims to identify the predictors of outcomes (in-hospital mortality, vasoactive inotrope score (VIS), duration of ICU stay and mechanical ventilation in the postoperative period) and compare the clinical and surgical parameters between survivors and non-survivors.

METHODS

This is a retrospective study. The data of 90 patients was collected from the medical records and the data comprising of 13 patients who underwent VSR closure by single patch technique, or septal occluder, and those who expired before receiving the treatment, was excluded. The data of 77 patients diagnosed with post-AMI VSR and who underwent surgical closure of VSR by double patch technique was included in this study. Clinical findings and echocardiography parameters were recorded from the perioperative period. The statistical software used was SPSS version 27. The primary outcome was determining the in-hospital mortality. The secondary outcome was identifying the clinical parameters that are significantly more in the non-survivors, and the factors predicting the in-hopsital mortality and morbidity (increased duration of ICU stay, and of mechanical ventilation, postoperative requirement of high doses of vasopressors and inotropes). Subgroup analysis was done to identify the relation of various clinical parameters with the postoperative complications. The factors predicting the in-hospital mortality were illustrated by a forest plot.

RESULTS

The mean age of the patients was 60.35 (±9.9) years, 56 (72.7%) were males, and 21 (27.3%) were females. Requirement of mechanical ventilation preoperatively (OR 3.92 [CI 2.91-6.96]), cardiogenic shock at presentation (OR 4 [CI 2.33 - 6.85]), requirement of IABP (OR 2.05 [CI 1.38-3.94]), were predictors of mortality. The apical location of VSR had been favorable for survival. The EUROScore II at presentation correlated with the postoperative VIS (level of significance [LS] 0.0011, R 0.36. The in-hospital mortality in this study was 33.76%.

CONCLUSION

The in-hospital mortality of VSR is 33.76%. Cardiogenic shock at presentation, non-apical site of VSR, preoperative requirement of mechanical ventilation, high VIS preoperatively, perioperative utilization of IABP, prolonged CPB time, postoperative duration of mechanical ventilation, and high postoperative VIS were the factors associated with increased odds of in-hospital mortality.

Ventricular Septal Rupture Management in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Review

Untreated myocardial infarction (MI) can potentially lead to many fatal complications which require immediate management. One of them is ventricular septal rupture (VSR) which necessitates the hemodynamic stabilization and closure of the septal rupture. Conventional treatment strategy involves surgical repair; however, percutaneous transcatheter repair using an occluder device is a promising upcoming approach. We conducted a detailed review of various published articles and examined the trends in incidence, risk factors, and pathophysiology of MI leading to VSR followed by an in-depth analysis of the various management strategies for the same. In the current clinical scenario, thrombolysis is an imperative management strategy that has been shown to decrease the occurrence of VSR by manifolds, more specifically in patients having ST-elevated MI. Delayed surgical closure remains the main treatment for post-infarction VSR. Other newer modalities, such as percutaneous closure devices and mechanical circulatory supports, are attractive alternative or complementary strategies to treat such patients, both postoperatively and perioperatively. However, earlier surgical repair in VSR increases the risk of mortality, and the optimal timing for VSR closure remains controversial. Despite surgical closure of VSR being the traditional treatment, it presents a considerably high operative risk. Although newer interventions such as percutaneous closure devices and mechanical circulatory supports provide impressive outcomes, their efficacy in high-risk patients remains inconclusive.

Sutureless patch repair with a novel adhesive for postinfarction ventricular septal rupture

Ventricular septal rupture after acute myocardial infarction is a fatal complication with a very high in-hospital mortality. Herein, we describe a new repair technique using a 1st patch for exclusion of the infarcted myocardium and a 2nd sutureless patch for rupture site closure with a novel tissue adhesive (Hydrofit®). Follow-up of over 2 years revealed a good clinical course and no residual interventricular shunt on echocardiography. This modified infarct exclusion technique with a 2nd sutureless patch has a benefit of avoiding stitches to the fragile infarcted myocardium and might be effective in preventing interventricular shunt recurrence after ventricular septal rupture.

Mechanical circulatory support for early surgical repair of postinfarction ventricular septal defect with cardiogenic shock

Postinfarction ventricular septal defect (pVSD) due to acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock (CS) is associated with high mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the outcome of primary surgical repair of pVSD in patients with CS and examine whether it is influenced by the use of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices. Between October 1994 and April 2016, primary surgical repair of pVSD complicated by CS was performed in 53 patients. Thirty-six (68%) were implanted pre-operatively with an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), 4 (8%) with extracorporeal life support (ECLS), and 13 (24%) received no MCS device. Prospectively collected demographic and perioperative data were analyzed retrospectively. All-cause, 30-day mortality rates were analyzed and multivariate analysis was performed to differentiate independent risk factors. No pre-operatively implanted MCS device was able to improve 30-day survival, whereas pre-operatively implanted ECLS tended to have a positive effect (P = .106). The post-operative need for a MCS device or escalation of MCS invasiveness (IABP upgrade to ECLS) was associated with a higher 30-day mortality (P = .001) compared with patients without any MCS device or those with pre-operatively implanted MCS devices. An independent risk factor for 30-day mortality was the interval between acute myocardial infarction and surgery <7 days (OR 5.895, CI 1.615-21.515; P = .007). Pre-operative implantation of ECLS for CS tends to improve the outcome of early primary surgical pVSD repair. The need for a post-operative MCS device is associated with a worse 30-day survival after early primary surgical pVSD repair.

Left Ventricular Pseudo-aneurysm with Ventricular Septal Rupture Due to Anterior ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

We report a case with the simultaneous occurrence of pseudo-aneurysm of the left ventricle and ventricular septal rupture, which was successfully surgically repaired. A 77-year-old woman with a history of aortic valve replacement and coronary bypass graft presented to our clinic due to chest pain. She was diagnosed with anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) based on an electrocardiogram. Echocardiography revealed pseudo-aneurysm of the left ventricle and ventricular septal rupture. Coronary angiography revealed 99% stenosis with delayed contrast filling in the mid left anterior descending artery. Surgical repair with a bovine pericardium patch was performed, and the postoperative course was uneventful.

Modified Infarct Exclusion Technique for Repair of Postinfarction Ventricular Septal Rupture

Repair of ventricular septal rupture after acute myocardial infarction remains a surgical challenge. Several techniques for the closure of these defects have been described. This report discusses an infarct exclusion technique modified from the one described by Tirone David and associates. In this technique two separate pericardial patches are used. The first patch excludes the rupture. The second patch is sutured to the margins of the first patch and thus provides strength to the margins of the first patch. The repair is simple and durable and has reduced the incidence of residual ventricular septal defects and patch dehiscence.

Modified double patch repair with infarct exclusion technique for ventricular septal perforation: a case study

Background

Ventricular septal perforation (VSP) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is accompanied by the worsening of rapid hemodynamics, resulting in a poor prognosis. In our department, infarct lesions are preoperatively detected with electrocardiogram (ECG)-synchronized contrast computed tomography, and the scope of approach and exclusion is determined. Furthermore, to effectively prevent a residual shunt, modified double patch repair and infarct exclusion techniques were used in combination to preserve left ventricular (LV) function. This method is reported because it considers both techniques as a surgical procedure that can be accomplished relatively easily and simultaneously.

Case presentation

We targeted two consecutive VSP patients who underwent this procedure. It took an average of 1 day from the onset of VSP to surgery. We performed double patch and infarct exclusion for VSP using bovine pericardium via an LV incision. Two patches were marked with a skin pen to anastomose eight mattresses equally. In addition, a one piece-coupled patch was made for infarct exclusion. The two patients were extubated on the day after surgery and intra-aortic balloon pump assistance was also withdrawn. Without perioperative complications, they could leave the intensive care unit after 6.5 days on average. Early postoperative ECG and magnetic resonance angiography showed good LV wall contraction, except at the infarcted area, with no evidence of a residual shunt.

Conclusion

The modified double patch repair with infarct exclusion technique is more effective for preventing a residual shunt and maintaining postoperative cardiac function than either of the techniques alone.

Left ventricular free wall rupture after surgery for ventricular septal rupture

A 67-year-old man presented with late left ventricular free wall rupture 1 month after an extended sandwich technique through a right ventricular incision for ventricular septal rupture following an inferoposterior acute myocardial infarction. We found that residual infarcted myocardium had led to left ventricular aneurysm formation. A pericardial patch on the left ventricular side at the initial operation should have been secured further from the septal defect using a larger needle. A patch on the left ventricular side is important for complete exclusion of a free wall infarction and for decreasing the stress on the suture line securing the patch.