Transesophageal Echocardiographic Illustration of Postinfarction Ventricular Septal Rupture

Abstract

Postinfarction ventricular septal rupture (VSR) is a rare but dreaded mechanical complication of myocardial infarction. Moreover, patient develops cardiogenic shock or congestive heart failure requiring early surgical intervention. To optimize surgical repair, perioperative confirmation, determining location of VSR and adequacy of repair, is mandatory. Assessment can be obtained by the transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Use of two- and three-dimensional TEE techniques clearly delineate size and shape of septal rupture and involvement of other cardiac structures. We report a patient presenting with postinfarction VSR for elective VSR repair and surgical revascularization and implication of TEE in perioperative management.