Peri-infarct pursestring for repair of subacute cardiac rupture.

A 55-year-old woman presented with cardiac tamponade after an inferior myocardial infarction. At surgical exploration there was an extensive area of hematoma associated with cardiac rupture. Rather than infarctectomy and ventricular repair an alternative approach was taken. The patient was successfully managed by the placement of a peri-infarct pursestring together with a superficial stitch closing the exit point of the cardiac rupture.