Post-Myocardial Infarction Ventricular Septal Rupture Bridged to Heartmate 3 with an Impella 5.5.

Optimal timing of surgical repair for patients diagnosed with a post-myocardial infarction ventricular septal rupture is controversial. Urgent surgical intervention to prevent hemodynamic decompensation must be balanced against delayed repair to allow for tissue stabilization and increased likelihood of a successful outcome. We report the use of an axillary Impella 5.5 (Abiomed Inc, Danvers, MA) temporary left ventricular assist device to aid in hemodynamic stabilization, shunt fraction reduction, and tissue maturation with eventual definitive surgical repair in a patient who presented with a post-myocardial infarction ventricular septal rupture and cardiogenic shock.