Rupture of Intra-Ventricular Septum

• Non-rhythmic complications of acute MI - Rupture of the Intra-Ventricular Septum pt1:

  • Infarcted portions of septae are also replaced by fibrous tissue during the healing / repair process and repairs may lack the strength of the original tissue
  • Rupture of the intra-ventricular septum following a septal infarct (following obstruction of the LAD artery) is associated with a very poor prognosis
  • Rupture of the intra-ventricular septum results in an immediate mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood between the 2 sides of the heart
• Non-rhythmic complications of acute MI - Rupture of the Intra-Ventricular Septum pt2:

  • Usually the pressure difference between the systemic and pulmonary circulation means blood mixes through the defect in a left to right shunt
  • As a result, excessive volumes of blood are pushed into the lungs, resulting in pulmonary hypertension and oedema (and all its consequences)