[Left ventricular rupture following mitral valve replacement].

Rupture of the posterior wall of the left ventricle is an unusual but often lethal complication following mitral valve replacement. The incidence is about 1% of MVRs. Most of the ruptures are attributed either to technical maneuvers in the operation or to stretch injury produced by removal of the mural leaflet of the mitral valve. Surgical repair of the rupture requires the cardiopulmonary bypass, and it seems to be suited that we select extracardiac approach to type 2 or 3 rupture and intracardiac approach to type 1 rupture. Preventive measures include the modifications in operative techniques, reduction of pre and afterload of the left ventricle, and retention of posterior mitral leaflet.