Preoperative Impella therapy in patients with ventricular septal rupture and cardiogenic shock: haemodynamic and organ function outcomes

OBJECTIVES

We examined the effects of preoperative Impella treatment on haemodynamic stability, organ recovery and postoperative outcomes in patients with postinfarction ventricular septal rupture (PIVSR) and cardiogenic shock (CS).

METHODS

Between April 2018 and February 2024, the data of 10 of 15 patients with PIVSR and CS who underwent Impella therapy were analysed. Emergency surgery was contingent on haemodynamic stability with the Impella/ECpella, except in the presence of organ failure. We utilized a generalized linear mixed model to evaluate organ ischaemia through changes in blood parameters upon admission and at subsequent intervals post-Impella insertion.

RESULTS

Preoperative Impella or combined Impella and ECpella (5 patients each) support was provided, with diagnoses and operations occurring at an average of 4 days (interquartile range: 2-5) and 8 days (interquartile range: 2-14) after myocardial infarction, respectively. Treatment significantly reduced lactate, alanine aminotransferase, creatine kinase-MB and troponin I levels (P ≤ 0.05 for all). Conversely, no significant change was noted in the aspartate aminotransferase level or the estimated glomerular filtration rate. Haemoglobin and platelet counts decreased despite transfusions (P < 0.001). No surgical deaths occurred; however, 70% of the patients required prolonged mechanical ventilation, and 80% were transferred to other facilities for rehabilitation.

CONCLUSIONS

Impella or ECpella treatment can improve haemodynamic and organ failure outcomes in patients with PIVSR and CS. However, the risks of prolonged support, including haemorrhagic events and the need for extended rehabilitation, point to a need for comparative studies to optimize support duration.

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.

Massive post-infarction ventricular septal rupture complicaing cardiogenic shock with long term veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support

INTRODUCTION

Ventricular septal rupture (VSR) following acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a rare but serious complication often causing cardiogenic shock (CS). The timing of surgery is a difficult problem for surgeons because of high mortality and surgical complexity. We present a case of successful use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for maintaining haemodynamic stability preoperative and delaying surgical repair of VSR patient in severe CS.

CASE REPORT

A 57-year-old man with AMI complicated by severe CS due to an massive VSR. Emergency surgery was considered a too high mortality risk. The patient was implanted with a percutaneous veno-arterial ECMO (VA-ECMO) system as a bridge to surgery for stabilizing general condition. On the 31th day after ECMO implantation, the ventricular septal defect was successfully repaired and weaning from the ECMO.

DISCUSSION

This case study illustrates that it may be considered to use long term ECMO preoperative to delayed surgery which leads to higher survival in cases of massive VSR patient after AMI in hemodynamically compromised patients. Still the optimal duration of mechanical circulatory support and the optimal timing for surgery need more research to define.

CONCLUSION

This case indicates the feasibility of preoperative using of a long term VA-ECMO as a bridge to surgical repair of VSR patient after AMI in severe CS. The optimal duration of mechanical circulatory support and the optimal timing for surgery still require further investigation.

Impella - Current issues and future expectations for the percutaneous, microaxial flow left ventricular assist device

The importance of temporary mechanical circulatory support for treating acute heart failure with cardiogenic shock is increasingly recognized, and Impella (Abiomed, Danvers, MA, USA) has received particular attention in this regard. Impella is an axial flow left ventricular assist device (LVAD) built into the tip of a catheter. It is inserted via a peripheral artery and implanted into the left ventricle. Although the morphology of Impella is different from a typical LVAD, it has similar actions and effects as an LVAD in terms of left ventricular drainage and aortic blood delivery. Impella increases mean arterial pressure (MAP) and systemic blood flow, thereby improving peripheral organ perfusion and promoting recovery from multiple organ failure. In addition, left ventricular unloading with increased MAP increases coronary perfusion and decreases myocardial oxygen demand, thereby promoting myocardial recovery. Impella is also useful as a mechanical vent of the left ventricle in patients supported with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Indications for Impella include emergency use for cardiogenic shock and non-emergent use during high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention and ventricular tachycardia ablation. Its intended uses for cardiogenic shock include bridge to recovery, durable device, heart transplantation, and heart surgery. Prophylactic use of Impella in high-risk patients undergoing open heart surgery to prevent postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock is also gaining attention. While there have been many case reports and retrospective studies on the benefits of Impella, there is little evidence based on sufficiently large randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Currently, several RCTs are now ongoing, which are critical to determine when, for whom, and how these devices should be used. In this review, we summarize the principles, physiology, indications, and complications of the Impella support and discuss current issues and future expectations for the device.

Intra-aortic balloon pump still has a role in late-onset myocardial infarction complicated by ventricular septal rupture with intractable heart failure: a case report

BACKGROUND

The current guidelines have discouraged the routine use of intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) in cardiogenic shock complicating acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Since then, the trend of IABP utilization in ACS has been declining. Nevertheless, the guidelines still preserve the recommendation of IABP use in hemodynamic instability or cardiogenic shock caused by post myocardial infarction (MI) ventricular septal rupture (VSR).

CASE PRESENTATION

A 46-years-old diabetic Southeast Asian female was referred from a peripheral facility with intractable heart failure despite treatment with vasoactive agents and diuretics for five days. The ECG suggested a recent anteroseptal myocardial infarction with normal high-sensitivity troponin-I value. The echocardiography detected a regional wall motion abnormality and a 10 mm wide ventricular septal defect. Invasive coronary angiography revealed a severe two-vessel coronary artery disease. We planned a delayed surgical strategy with preoperative optimization using IABP as a bridge to surgery. IABP implantation followed by significant hemodynamic improvement and rapid resolution of heart failure without any inotrope support. Afterwards, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and VSR surgical repair were performed. We safely removed IABP on the third postoperative day with proper weaning and minimal vasoactive support.

CONCLUSION

We report a case where IABP still provided benefits for a patient with intractable heart failure caused by undetermined onset MI complicated by VSR. The use of IABP in such a case is in accordance with the recommendation of the current guidelines. Several studies showed that IABP use during preoperative optimization in the case of post-MI VSR was associated with survival benefits.

Role of ECLS in Managing Post-Myocardial Infarction Ventricular Septal Rupture

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to analyze outcomes in patients undergoing surgery for ventricular septal rupture (VSR) after myocardial infarction (MI) and the preoperative use of extracorporeal life support (ECLS) as a bridge to surgery.

METHODS

We included patients undergoing surgery for VSR from January 2009 until June 2021 from two centers in Germany. Patients were separated into two groups, those with and without ECLS, before surgery. Pre- and intraoperative data, outcome, and survival during follow-up were evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 47 consecutive patients were included. Twenty-five patients were in the ECLS group, and 22 were in the group without ECLS. All the ECLS-group patients were in cardiogenic shock preoperatively. Most patients in the ECLS group were transferred from another hospital [n = 21 (84%) vs. no-ECLS (n = 12 (57.1%), p = 0.05]. We observed a higher number of postoperative bleeding complications favoring the group without ECLS [n = 6 (28.6%) vs. n = 16 (64%), p < 0.05]. There was no significant difference in the persistence of residual ventricular septal defect (VSD) between groups [ECLS n = 4 (16.7%) and no-ECLS n = 3 (13.6%)], p = 1.0. Total in-hospital mortality was 38.3%. There was no significant difference in in-hospital mortality [n = 6 (27.3%) vs. n = 12 (48%), p = 0.11] and survival at last follow-up between the groups (p = 0.50).

CONCLUSION

We detected no statistical difference in the in-hospital and long-term mortality in patients who received ECLS as supportive therapy after MI-induced VSR compared to those without ECLS. ECLS could be an effective procedure applied as a bridge to surgery in patients with VSR and cardiogenic shock.

Delayed Ventricular Septal Rupture Repair After Myocardial Infarction: An Updated Review

Ventricular septal rupture (VSR) is a rare but serious complication that can occur after myocardial infarction (MI) and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The optimal management approach for VSR remains a topic of debate, with considerations including early versus delayed surgery, risk stratification, pharmacological interventions, minimally invasive techniques, and tissue engineering. The pathophysiology of VSR involves myocardial necrosis, inflammatory response, and enzymatic degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM), particularly mediated by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). These processes lead to structural weakening and subsequent rupture of the ventricular septum. Hemodynamically, VSR results in left-to-right shunting, increased pulmonary blood flow, and potentially hemodynamic instability. The early surgical repair offers the advantages of immediate closure of the defect, prevention of complications, and potentially improved outcomes. However, it is associated with higher surgical risk and limited myocardial recovery potential during the waiting period. In contrast, delayed surgery allows for a period of myocardial recovery, risk stratification, and optimization of surgical outcomes. However, it carries the risk of ongoing complications and progression of ventricular remodeling. Risk stratification plays a crucial role in determining the optimal timing for surgery and tailoring treatment plans. Various clinical factors, imaging assessments, scoring systems, biomarkers, and hemodynamic parameters aid in risk assessment and guide decision-making. Pharmacological interventions, including vasopressors, diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, beta-blockers, antiplatelet agents, and antiarrhythmic drugs, are employed to stabilize hemodynamics, prevent complications, promote myocardial healing, and improve outcomes in VSR patients. Advancements in minimally invasive techniques, such as percutaneous device closure, and tissue engineering hold promise for less invasive interventions and better outcomes. These approaches aim to minimize surgical morbidity, optimize healing, and enhance patient recovery. In conclusion, the management of VSR after MI requires a multidimensional approach that considers various aspects, including risk stratification, surgical timing, pharmacological interventions, minimally invasive techniques, and tissue engineering.

Post-infarction ventricular septal defect surgery in Portugal

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE

We performed a collective analysis of a dedicated national post-myocardial infarction ventricular septal defect (VSD) registry to further elucidate controversial areas of this clinical entity's surgical treatment.

METHODS

A descriptive statistical analysis was carried out and cumulative survival using the Kaplan-Meier method and multivariate logistic regression of risk factors for 30-day mortality are presented.

RESULTS

Median survival of the cohort (n=76) was 72 months (95% CI 4-144 months). Better cumulative survival was observed in patients who underwent VSD closure more than 10 days after myocardial infarction (log-rank p=0.036). Concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), different closure techniques, location of the VSD, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as bridge to closure, or intra-aortic balloon pump as bridge to closure showed no statistically significant differences at Kaplan-Meier analysis. Multivariate binary logistic regression for independent factors affecting status at 30 days showed a statistically significant effect of age (OR 1.08; 95% CI 1.01-1.15) and concomitant CABG (OR 0.23; 95% CI 0.06-0.90).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results are comparable with previous reports regarding mortality, risk factors and concomitant procedures. Timing of surgery remains a controversial issue. Later closure seems to be advantageous, however, there is significant observational bias.

Pseudo Atrium?: A Rare Presentation of Interventricular Septal Dissection Extending Into the Left Atrium

Interventricular septal dissection is a rare complication of myocardial infarction. In cases with few left-to-right shunts in the ventricular septal perforation, interventricular septal dissection expands in the chronic phase. It is rare for the interventricular septal dissection to extend from the ventricular septum to the left atrial free wall. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.).

Delayed Ventricular Septal Rupture Repair on Patient Outcomes After Myocardial Infarction: A Systematic Review

Even though the prevalence of VSR after MI is only 1%-3%, the mortality associated with the condition is more than 80%. Very few studies in the literature have described in detail the treatment options for delayed VSR repair. This systematic review was conducted to evaluate the outcomes of delayed ventricular septal rupture (VSR) repair following acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Digital databases were searched systematically to identify studies reporting the outcomes of delayed VSR repair. Detailed study and patient-level baseline characteristics including the type of study, sample size, follow-up, number of delayed repairs, time to repair, outcomes (in terms of major adverse cardiovascular events), and predictors of outcome were abstracted. A total of 12 studies, recruiting 8,579 patients were included in the final analysis. Male gender, young age (<60 years), and delayed VSR repair were reported as predictors of survival along with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), and the use of inotropes before surgery. Postoperative renal failure, higher New York Heart Association (NYHA) score, early repair, and history of heart failure (HF) were demonstrated as predictors of mortality. This study demonstrated that delayed VSR repair can reduce mortality in patients who develop VSR after AMI. Furthermore, the use of LVADs can prolong the time of surgery, and the use of inotropes can predict survival benefits in this patient cohort.

Overview of Mechanical Circulatory Support for the Management of Post-Myocardial Infarction Ventricular Septal Rupture

Post-myocardial infarction ventricular septal rupture (PIVSR) is becoming increasingly rare in the percutaneous coronary intervention era; however, the mortality rates remain high. Surgical repair is the gold standard treatment for PIVSR but is associated with surgical difficulty and high mortality. Therefore, the timing of surgery is controversial (i.e. either undertake emergency surgery or wait for resolution of organ failure and scarring of the infarcted area). Although long-term medical management is usually ineffective, several mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices have been used to postpone surgery to an optimal timing. Recently, in addition to venous arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO), new MCS devices, such as Impella (Abiomed Inc., Boston, MA, USA), have been developed. Impella is a pump catheter that pumps blood directly from the left ventricle, in a progressive fashion, into the ascending aorta. VA-ECMO is a temporary MCS system that provides complete and rapid cardiopulmonary support, with concurrent hemodynamic support and gas exchange. When left and right heart failure and/or respiratory failure occur in cardiogenic shock or PIVSR after acute myocardial infarction, ECpella (Impella and VA-ECMO) is often introduced, as it can provide circulatory and respiratory assistance in a shorter period. This review outlines the basic concepts of MCS in PIVSR treatment strategies and its role as a bridge device, and discusses the efficacy and complications of ECpella therapy and the timing of surgery.

Analysis of influencing factors for prognosis of patients with ventricular septal perforation: A single-center retrospective study

Background

Ventricular septal rupture (VSR) is a type of cardiac rupture, usually complicated by acute myocardial infarction (AMI), with a high mortality rate and often poor prognosis. The aim of our study was to investigate the factors influencing the long-term prognosis of patients with VSR from different aspects, comparing the evaluation performance of the Gensini score, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score and European Heart Surgery Risk Assessment System II (EuroSCORE II) score systems.

Methods

This study retrospectively enrolled 188 patients with VSR between Dec 9, 2011 and Nov 21, 2021at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. All patients were followed up until Jan 27, 2022 for clinical data, angiographic characteristics, echocardiogram outcomes, intraoperative, postoperative characteristics and major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) (30-day mortality, cardiac readmission). Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was used to explore the predictors of long-term mortality.

Results

The median age of 188 VSR patients was 66.2 ± 9.1 years and 97 (51.6%) were males, and there were 103 (54.8%) patients in the medication group, 34 (18.1%) patients in the percutaneous transcatheter closure (TCC) group, and 51 (27.1%) patients in the surgical repair group. The average follow-up time was 857.4 days. The long-term mortality of the medically managed group, the percutaneous TCC group, and the surgical repair group was 94.2, 32.4, and 35.3%, respectively. Whether combined with cardiogenic shock (OR 0.023, 95% CI 0.001-0.054, P = 0.019), NT-pro BNP level (OR 0.027, 95% CI 0.002-0.34, P = 0.005), EuroSCORE II (OR 0.530, 95% CI 0.305-0.918, P = 0.024) and therapy group (OR 3.518, 95% CI 1.079-11.463, P = 0.037) were independently associated with long-term mortality in patients with VSR, and this seems to be independent of the therapy group. The mortality rate of surgical repair after 2 weeks of VSR was much lower than within 2 weeks (P = 0.025). The cut-off point of EuroSCORE II was determined to be 14, and there were statistically significant differences between the EuroSCORE II < 14 group and EuroSCORE II≥14 group (HR = 0.2596, 95%CI: 0.1800-0.3744, Logrank P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Patients with AMI combined with VSR have a poor prognosis if not treated surgically, surgical repair after 2 weeks of VSR is a better time. In addition, EuroSCORE II can be used as a scoring system to assess the prognosis of patients with VSR.

Mechanical Circulatory Support in Delayed Surgery of Post-Infarction Ventricular Septal Rupture in Patients in Cardiogenic Shock-A Review

Post-infarction ventricular septal rupture (VSR) is a serious complication of myocardial infarction, which, in its natural course or treated medically, is related to high mortality rate. Surgical intervention remains the treatment of choice. Recent studies have shown that delayed surgery is related to better outcomes in comparison with urgent surgery; however, in many studies the impact of the patients' initial hemodynamic status on the treatment outcomes often remains unclear. In this review, we analyze the outcomes of delayed surgical treatment of patients in cardiogenic shock in the course of post-infarction ventricular septal defect stabilized with preoperative use of mechanical circulatory support. We evaluate the importance of various types of mechanical circulatory devices (MCD), such as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, Tandem Heart, Impella, and intra-aortic baloon pump (IABP) in preoperative stabilization of patients, and the most suitable time for surgery, and we also present the features of ideal MCD for patients with VSR. A search of Pubmed to identify studies concerning the use of MCD in patients in cardiogenic shock in the course of VSR qualified for delayed surgery was conducted in January 2022. A total of 16 articles with three or more patients described were analyzed in this study. The preoperative use of MCD in patients in cardiogenic shock and delayed surgery as a main part of treatment seems to be a promising direction, however, it requires further research.

ECMO and Impella Support Strategies as a Bridge to Surgical Repair of Post-Infarction Ventricular Septal Rupture

Background and Objectives: Post-infarct ventricular septal rupture (PIVSR) continues to have significant morbidity and mortality, despite decreased prevalence. Impella and venoarterial extracorporeal membranous oxygenation (VA-ECMO) have been proposed as strategies to correct hemodynamic derangements and bridge patients to delayed operative repair when success rates are higher. This review places VA-ECMO and Impella support strategies in the context of bridging patients to successful PIVSR repair, with an additional case report of successful bridging with the Impella device. Materials and Methods: We report a case of PIVSR repair utilizing 14 days of Impella support. We additionally conducted a systematic review of contemporary literature to describe the application of VA-ECMO and Impella devices in the pre-operative period prior to surgical PIVSR correction. Expert commentary on the advantages and disadvantages of each of these techniques is provided. Results: We identified 19 studies with 72 patients undergoing VA-ECMO as a bridge to PIVSR repair and 6 studies with 11 patients utilizing an Impella device as a bridge to PIVSR repair. Overall, outcomes in both groups were better than expected from patients who were historically managed with medicine and balloon pump therapy, however there was a significant heterogeneity between studies. Impella provided for excellent left ventricular unloading, but did result in some concerns for reversal of shunting. VA-ECMO resulted in improved end-organ perfusion, but carried increased risks of device-related complications and requirement for additional ventricular unloading. Conclusions: Patients presenting with PIVSR in cardiogenic shock requiring a MCS bridge to definitive surgical repair continue to pose a challenge to the multidisciplinary cardiovascular team as the diverse presentation and management issues require individualized care plans. Both VA-ECMO and the Impella family of devices play a role in the contemporary management of PIVSR and offer distinct advantages and disadvantages depending on the clinical scenario. The limited case numbers reported demonstrate feasibility, safety, and recommendations for optimal management.

Treatment Strategies for Ventricular Septal Rupture After Myocardial Infarction: A Single-Center Experience

Objective

To analyze treatment strategies, prognosis, and related risk factors of patients with postinfarction ventricular septal rupture, as well as the impact of timing of surgical intervention.

Methods

A total of 23 patients diagnosed with postinfarction ventricular septal rupture who were non-selectively admitted to Shanxi Provincial Cardiovascular Hospital between October 2017 and August 2021 were included in this study. The relevant clinical data, operation-related conditions, and follow-up data were summarized for all patients. The Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were used for the cumulative incidence of unadjusted mortality in patients with different treatment methods. Multivariate logistic regression was used to evaluate the independent risk factors for in-hospital patient mortality.

Results

The mean age of the study patients was 64.43 ± 7.54 years, 12(52.2%) were females. There was a significant difference in terms of postoperative residual shunt between the surgical and interventional closure groups (5.9 vs. 100%, respectively; P < 0.001). The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 21.7%; however, even though the surgical group had a lower mortality rate than the interventional closure group (17.6 vs. 33%, respectively), this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.576). Univariate analysis showed that in-hospital survival group patients were significantly younger than in-hospital death group patients (62.50 ± 6.53 vs. 71.40 ± 7.37 years, respectively; P = 0.016), and that women had a significantly higher in-hospital mortality rate than men (P = 0.037). The average postoperative follow-up time was 18.11 ± 13.92 months; as of the end of the study all 14 patients in the surgical group were alive, Two out of four patients survived and two patients died after interventional closure. Univariate analysis showed that interventional closure was a risk factor for long-term death (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Surgical operation is the most effective treatment for patients with postinfarction ventricular septal rupture; however, the best timing of the operation should be based on the patient's condition and comprehensively determined through real-time evaluation and monitoring. We believe that delaying the operation time as much as possible when the patient's condition permits can reduce postoperative mortality. Interventional closure can be used as a supplementary or bridge treatment for surgical procedures.

Surgical Treatment of Postinfarction Ventricular Septal Rupture

IMPORTANCE

Ventricular septal rupture (VSR) is a rare but life-threatening mechanical complication of acute myocardial infarction associated with high mortality despite prompt treatment. Surgery represents the standard of care; however, only small single-center series or national registries are usually available in literature, whereas international multicenter investigations have been poorly carried out, therefore limiting the evidence on this topic.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the clinical characteristics and early outcomes for patients who received surgery for postinfarction VSR and to identify factors independently associated with mortality.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

The Mechanical Complications of Acute Myocardial Infarction: an International Multicenter Cohort (CAUTION) Study is a retrospective multicenter international cohort study that includes patients who were treated surgically for mechanical complications of acute myocardial infarction. The study was conducted from January 2001 to December 2019 at 26 different centers worldwide among 475 consecutive patients who underwent surgery for postinfarction VSR.

EXPOSURES

Surgical treatment of postinfarction VSR, independent of the technique, alone or combined with other procedures (eg, coronary artery bypass grafting).

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The primary outcome was early mortality; secondary outcomes were postoperative complications.

RESULTS

Of the 475 patients included in the study, 290 (61.1%) were men, with a mean (SD) age of 68.5 (10.1) years. Cardiogenic shock was present in 213 patients (44.8%). Emergent or salvage surgery was performed in 212 cases (44.6%). The early mortality rate was 40.4% (192 patients), and it did not improve during the nearly 20 years considered for the study (median [IQR] yearly mortality, 41.7% [32.6%-50.0%]). Low cardiac output syndrome and multiorgan failure were the most common causes of death (low cardiac output syndrome, 70 [36.5%]; multiorgan failure, 53 [27.6%]). Recurrent VSR occurred in 59 participants (12.4%) but was not associated with mortality. Cardiogenic shock (survived: 95 [33.6%]; died, 118 [61.5%]; P < .001) and early surgery (time to surgery ≥7 days, survived: 105 [57.4%]; died, 47 [35.1%]; P < .001) were associated with lower survival. At multivariate analysis, older age (odds ratio [OR], 1.05; 95% CI, 1.02-1.08; P = .001), preoperative cardiac arrest (OR, 2.71; 95% CI, 1.18-6.27; P = .02) and percutaneous revascularization (OR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.003-2.65; P = .048), and postoperative need for intra-aortic balloon pump (OR, 2.98; 95% CI, 1.46-6.09; P = .003) and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (OR, 3.19; 95% CI, 1.30-7.38; P = .01) were independently associated with mortality.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In this study, surgical repair of postinfarction VSR was associated with a high risk of early mortality; this risk has remained unchanged during the last 2 decades. Delayed surgery seemed associated with better survival. Age, preoperative cardiac arrest and percutaneous revascularization, and postoperative need for intra-aortic balloon pump and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation were independently associated with early mortality. Further prospective studies addressing preoperative and perioperative patient management are warranted to hopefully improve the currently suboptimal outcome.

Mechanical Circulatory Support as a Bridge to Definitive Treatment in Post-Infarction Ventricular Septal Rupture

Ventricular septal rupture (VSR) represents a rare complication of acute myocardial infarction, often presenting with cardiogenic shock and associated with high in-hospital mortality despite prompt intervention. Although immediate surgery is recommended for patients who cannot be effectively stabilized, the ideal timing of intervention remains controversial. Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) may allow hemodynamic stabilization and delay definitive treatment even in critical patients. However, the interactions between MCS and VSR pathophysiology as well as potentially related adverse effects remain unclear. A systematic review was performed, from 2000 onward, to identify reports describing MCS types, effects, complications, and outcomes in the pre-operative VSR-related setting. One hundred eleven studies (2,440 patients) were included. Most patients had well-known negative predictors (e.g., cardiogenic shock, inferior infarction). Almost all patients had intra-aortic balloon pumps, with additional MCS adopted in 129 patients (77.5% being venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation). Mean MCS bridging time was 6 days (range: 0 to 23 days). In-hospital mortality was 50.4%, with the lowest mortality rate in the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation group (29.2%). MCS may enhance hemodynamic stabilization and delayed VSR treatment. However, the actual effects and interaction of the MCS-VSR association should be carefully assessed to avoid further complications or incorrect MCS-VSR coupling.