Outcome and profile of ventricular septal rupture with cardiogenic shock after myocardial infarction: A report from the SHOCK Trial Registry

OBJECTIVES We wished to assess the profile and outcomes of patients with ve ntricular septal rupture (VSR) in the setting of cardiogenic shock (CS) com plicating acute myocardial infarction (MI). BACKGROUND Cardiogenic shock is often seen with VSR complicating acute MI. Despite surgical therapy, mortality in such patients is high. METHODS We analyzed 939 patients enrolled in the SHOCK Trial Registry of CS in acute infarction, comparing 55 patients whose shock was associated with VSR with 884 patients who had predominant left ventricular failure. RESULTS Rupture occurred a median 16 h after infarction. Patients with VSR tended to be older (p = 0.053), were more often female (p = 0.002) and less often had previous infarction (p < 0.001), diabetes mellitus (p = 0.015) o r smoking history (p = 0.033). They also underwent right-heart catheterizat ion, intra-aortic balloon pumping and bypass surgery significantly more oft en. Although patients with rupture had less severe coronary disease, their in-hospital mortality was higher (87% vs. 61%, p < 0.001). Surgical repair was performed in 31 patients with rupture (21 had concomitant bypass surger y); 6 (19%) survived. Of the 24 patients managed medically, only 1 survived . CONCLUSIONS There is a high in-hospital mortality rate when CS develops as a result of VSR. Ventricular septal rupture may occur early after infarctio n, and women and the elderly may be more susceptible. Although the prognosi s is poor, surgery remains the best therapeutic option in this setting, (J Am Coll Cardiol 2000;36:1110-6) (C) 2000 by the American College of Cardiol ogy.