[Emergency treatment of mechanical complications of acute myocardial infarction. Septum perforations and mitral insufficiency].

Over the last three years, thanks on the one hand to improvements in surgical techniques and ressuscitation, and on the other to assisted circulation using the intra-aortic balloon, which allows improved preoperative preparation of the patients, urgent medicosurgical treatment of the mechanical complications of infarction has improved the prognosis by comparison with the recent past. During the above period, our figures for operative intervention during the first two weeks after an acute infarction have been as follows: 1. Twenty nine cases of septal perforation (17 of which had previously had assisted circulation by balloon): there were 8 immediate deaths and 8 successful cases (no secondary deaths over a follow-up period of from 2 to 41 months). In all these cases, the surgeon approached the perforation by way of the left ventricle. No patient required an additional bypass procedure. Where indicated, assisted circulation by means of a balloon should not be continued for more than a few days. If there is no improvement with its use, it seems unreasonable to proceed to surgery regardless. 2. Ten cases of acute mitral incompetence; 8 were due to ruptured papillary muscle and two to mal function. 5 patients out of the 10 had required circulatory assistance by balloon preoperatively. There were 2 immediate deaths and 8 successful cases, with one secondary death (follow-up period of between 2 and 37 months).