Successful surgical management of ventricular septal perforation following left ventricular free wall rupture due to acute myocardial infarction: a case report

BackgroundThe mechanical complications associated with acute myocardial infarction can be fatal. We report a life-saving case of a very elderly patient with consecutive mechanical complications of acute myocardial infarction.Case presentationA 90-year-old woman was transferred to our hospital for emergency care due to chest pain. She underwent emergency percutaneous coronary intervention of the left anterior descending branch and was diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction and intra-aortic balloon pumping insertion was performed. After returning to the intensive care unit, she experienced chest pain and went into shock. Echocardiography showed left ventricular free wall rupture, and percutaneous cardiopulmonary support was established. Emergency left ventriculoplasty was performed for the left ventricular free wall rupture. A ventricular septal perforation was observed on postoperative day 9, and its closure through right ventriculotomy was performed on postoperative day 10. On the 128th postoperative day, the patient was transferred to the hospital for rehabilitation.ConclusionsA 90-year-old patient with consecutive left ventricular free wall rupture and ventricular septal perforation after acute myocardial infarction was successfully managed with two surgeries.