title: Treatment strategies for postinfarction left ventricular free wall rupture: stabilization with peri-operative IABP and off-pump repair.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Perioperative management of post-infarction left ventricular free wall rupture (LVFWR) is not clearly standardized and surgical repair is the only therapeutic option. Role of off-pump surgery and stabilization with perioperative intraaortic balloon pumping (IABP) were here analysed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven patients underwent surgery for LVFWR between 1990 and 2002. Clinical picture included electromechanical dissociation (3 patients) and sudden hypotension (4 patients). Except in one patient who was reanimated through femoro-femoral cardiopulmonary bypass, off-pump repair through on-lay patching technique was always performed. IABP was employed in the immediate postoperative period in five cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A satisfactory hemodynamic state was restored in all cases and there were no reoperations for bleeding or rerupture. Hospital survival was 100%. One patient underwent successful surgical myocardial revascularization two months after LVFWR. Two patients died at follow-up. The survivors present with good NYHA and CCS functional classes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When the anatomy of the LVFWR is favourable, off-pump external patching repair proves a good choice. Postoperative IABP provides satisfactory hemodynamic support.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardio-Thoracic and Respiratory Sciences, Second University of Naples, V. Monaldi Hospital, Naples, Italy. gianantonio.nappi@unina2.it
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nappi
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: De Santo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torella
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Della Corte
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maresca
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cotrufo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006342:Heart Rupture, Post-Infarction / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007423:Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D019990:Perioperative Care; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors