Ventricular Septal Rupture After Recent Myocardial Infarction in the Very Elderly

Clinical Implication for Surgery

Abstract

Ventricular septal rupture (VSR) is one of the fatal complications of myocardial infarction in the percutaneous coronary intervention era. A rapid diagnosis, medical and mechanical support, and surgical intervention are required for recovery and survival. In such a situation, the risk of complications associated with surgery is very high, especially in very elderly patients, in which any therapeutic strategy should be carefully discussed by the heart team. Herein, we describe two cases of VSRs after recent myocardial infarction (RMI) in very elderly patients that required debate regarding whether to perform surgery. The patients included a 93-year-old man and 89-year-old man, both of which were not highly frail before the RMI occurred. In the former case, a conservative strategy was adopted because the risk of surgery was considered, but he did not survive. On the other hand, the latter patient underwent surgery and his life was ultimately saved. Based on these two cases, we concluded that even if the patients are very old, if possible, surgical intervention should be fully considered.