[Ventricular septal defect and recent myocardial infarction].

Rupture of the interventricular septum is a classical complication of acute myocardial infarction. The diagnosis should be evoked when the patient's hemodynamic condition deteriorates in the presence of a new systolic murmur. A transthoracic or, preferably, transesophageal echocardiography confirms the diagnosis. Early surgical correction constitutes the best treatment. Despite recent progresses, mortality remains high but long term results are encouraging. The risk factors conditioning prognosis, the surgical options and the question of simultaneous coronary bypass will be discussed after a thorough review of the literature.