Adjunctive technique for control of hemorrhage during repair of cardiac rupture.

A 66-year-old man was treated for left ventricular free wall rupture after acute myocardial infarction. The cardiac rupture was repaired with a wide patch without infarctectomy. However, bleeding from the suture line was difficult to control. Using a new technique we made a fistula between the peripatch space and the right atrium. This was very effective in stopping the bleeding. Therefore, this technique can be an option in the management of myocardial bleeding.