Myocardial Infarctectomy

Abstract

The effect of surgical infarctectomy 1‐9 weeks after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has been evaluated in five patients with serious complications such as progressive heart failure and recurring tachyarrhythmias. Two patients had ventricular septal rupture as well. The diagnosis of left ventricular akinesia with ineffective motion of the myocardial wall was established by cineventriculography. All patients survived the operation. One did not regain consciousness and died from cerebral embolic disease after 1 week and another had sudden cardiac arrest and died 1½ weeks after the operation. The remaining three patients are all clinically well compensated 6 to 12 months after the operation and are at present living a fairly normal life. Cardiac catheterization in one case showed much improved left ventricular function.