Presentation
Chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, diaphoresis and palpitations.
Patient Data
This footage represents an abrupt interruption within the normal myocardium of the interventricular septum. Colour Doppler shows flow between the left and the right ventricle.
Ultrasound images show a 7 mm Left/Right muscular VSD. Qp:Qs= 2.6
The left ventricle is mildly hypertrophied.
The left atrium is mildly dilated.
The right ventricular diameter and function are within normal.
Case Discussion
The patient presented with acute anteroseptal STEMI.
After the initiation of intravenous thrombolytic therapy, patient was stabilised with normal vital signs. Auscultation: no heart murmurs, bi-basilar lung fine crackles.
Day 3 follow-up: no chest pain, orthopnoea nor paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea.
Auscultation revealed a hollow systolic murmur.
Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a rare but life-threatening mechanical complication of acute myocardial infarction; patients should undergo emergency surgical or percutaneous intervention to prevent haemodynamic deterioration and multi-organ failure.
It may occur within 24 h to several days after myocardial infarction and the diagnosis is confirmed by echocardiography.