The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 44, 312-314, Copyright © 1987 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Successful management of left ventricular rupture following myocardial revascularization
RM Bojar, JW Overton Jr and IM Madoff
Left ventricular (LV) rupture is a common cause of death following
myocardial infarction, but it is rarely noted following coronary bypass
surgery. This is true despite the increasing number of coronary bypass
operations performed for postinfarction angina, often following transmural
infarction. A 59-year-old woman underwent successful repair of left
ventricular free-wall rupture that occurred after coronary surgery
performed for postinfarction angina. To our knowledge, this is the first
report to establish the feasibility of successful surgical repair of left
ventricular free-wall rupture in the postoperative patient with tamponade
or intrathoracic bleeding.