Echocardiographic observations on ventricular septal rupture complicating acute myocardial infarction.

Echocardiograms were performed on three patients with ventricular septal rupture complicating myocardial infarction. The pulmonary artery mean pressure was 30 mm Hg or more in all three patients. The size of the ventricular septal defect, determined at operation or autopsy, was 2 cm or greater in each patient. The salient echocardiographic abnormality was dilatation of the right ventricle. The direction of septal motion was normal in all the patients. The left atrial diameter was slightly increased in one patient and was normal in the other two. In one patient, and unusual pattern of mitral valve motion was seen. Complete closure of the reopening of the valve. This pattern was suggestive of increased blood flow through the mitral valve. Although some of these findings are nosspecific, the combination of echocardiographic findings may provide useful clues to the diagnosis of septal perforation.