A 55-year-old woman presented with cardiac tamponade after an inferior
myocardial infarction. At surgical exploration there was an extensive
area of hematoma associated with cardiac rupture. Rather than infarct
ectomy and ventricular repair an alternative approach was taken. The p
atient was successfully managed by the placement of a peri-infarct pur
sestring together with a superficial stitch closing the exit point of
the cardiac rupture.