[Rupture of the interventricular septum in acute myocardial infarct].

Ventricular septal rupture in patients with acute myocardial infarction is not a common complication. It was found in 20 patients of 4298 admitted to the coronary care unit of the Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez from January 1980 to March 1991. The diagnosis was made by right heart catheterization if 85%, by echocardiography in 35% and by postmortem study in 15% of the patients. Mortality was 70%. In all patients the functional class worsened after the rupture, from class I to III or IV. There were not significant differences in mortality in relation to risk factors, or hemodynamic findings. Mortality was higher in older patients, females and patients with anterior myocardial infarction. Angiographic studies did not increase mortality and are necessary to establish an early surgical treatment.