Surgical Repair of Postinfarction Ventricular Septal Defect: 10-Year Experience

n= 10). Eight patients were supported perioperatively by intraaortic balloon counterpulsation (IABP). In all cases the surgical technique included infarctectomy and ventricular septum reconstruction with synthetic patches. Coronary artery bypass grafting was synchronously performed in four patients. Seven patients died perioperatively (mortality rate 50%) due to heart failure and to multiple organ failure. The most frequent complications were low cardiac output syndrome, hemorrhage, and respiratory and renal insufficiency. The PIVSD needs urgent surgical intervention with the patient hemodynamically stable after cardiac catheterization. Long-term results are favorable for survivors.RID="" ID="" <E5>Correspondence to:</E5> K. Athanassiadi, M.D., Ph.D., 34A Konstantinoupoleos Str., 15562 Holargos, Athens, Greece