[Surgical measures in the postinfarct phase].

Even though the majority of patients with myocardial infarctions demonstrate an uncomplicated course which does not need any kind of surgical intervention, there is a distinct number of patients with a ventricular aneurysm complicated by congestive heart failure or refractory arrhythmias or a perforated ventricular septum or a mitral insufficiency due to papillary muscle dysfunction or rupture, representing a life-threatening condition with an urgent need for surgical correction. The clinic, hemodynamic and surgical therapy are discussed.