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J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2010;140:59-65
© 2010 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery

Acquired Cardiovascular Disease

Determinants of in-hospital and long-term surgical outcomes after repair of postinfarction ventricular septal rupture

^a Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Prince Charles Hospital, Chermside, Australia
^b School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia

Received for publication May 20, 2009; revisions received August 13, 2009; accepted for publication September 7, 2009.

^_* Address for reprints: Satsuki Fukushima, MD, PhD, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Prince Charles Hospital, Rode Road, Chermside, QLD 4032, Australia. (Email: Satsuki_Fukushima{at}health.qld.gov.au).

Objectives: Surgical repair of post–myocardial infarction ventricular septal rupture is challenging with reported early mortality being substantial. In addition, congestive cardiac failure and ventricular tachyarrhythmia frequently occur long term after the operation, although frequency and predictive factors of these events have been poorly identified.

Methods: A consecutive series of 68 patients who underwent repair of postinfarction ventricular septal rupture by 14 surgeons between 1988 and 2007 was studied. Fifty-eight (85%) patients underwent repair in an urgent setting (<48 hours after diagnosis). Coronary artery bypass grafting was concomitantly performed in 48 (71%) patients. Mean follow-up period was 9.2 ± 4.9 years.

Results: Thirty-day mortality was 35%, with previous myocardial infarction, previous cardiac surgery, preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction less than 40%, and urgent surgery being independent risk factors. Actuarial survival of 30-day survivors was 88% at 5 years, 73% at 10 years, and 51% at 15 years. Actuarial freedom from congestive cardiac failure and ventricular tachyarrhythmia was 70% and 85% at 5 years, 54% and 71% at 10 years, and 28% and 61% at 15 years, respectively. Independent predictors for congestive cardiac failure included hypertension, posterior septal rupture, residual interventricular communication, and preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction less than 40%, whereas concomitant ventricular aneurysmectomy and preoperative occlusion of the left anterior descending artery were independent predictors of ventricular tachyarrhythmia.

Conclusions: Long-term outcomes after surgical repair of postinfarction ventricular septal rupture was favorable, despite infrequent exposure by individual surgeons to the pathologic features, indicating that an aggressive surgical approach is warranted. Predictors of congestive cardiac failure and ventricular arrhythmia long term varied.