Congenital ventricular septal defect presenting as rupture of the ventricular septum subsequent to myocardial infarction.

A 74-year-old female presented in cardiogenic shock four weeks following a severe episode of ischaemic chest pain. Physical examination was suggestive of a ventricular septal defect, and this was confirmed by cross-sectional echocardiography and right heart catheterisation. As the resting electrocardiogram was consistent with an extensive anterior myocardial infarct of indeterminate age, a diagnosis of ventricular septal defect subsequent to infarction was made and the patient taken to the operating theatre for urgent repair. At operation, however, the defect was found to be congenital in origin.