In recent years, advances in surgical techniques and perioperative management of cardiac surgical patients have facilitated more aggressive operative treatment of many serious and even catastrophic complications of acute myocardial infarction (Ml). In addition, improved understanding of the natural history of these complications has helped to optimize the indications for and timing of surgical intervention. The role of emergency revascularization for postinfarction angina, evolving acute MI, cardiogenic shock after acute MI, and failed percutaneous transluminal angioplasty has expanded with overall satisfactory to excellent results. Surgical treatment of mechanical complications of acute Ml such as free-wall rupture, acute ischemic mitral insufficiency, and ventricular septal defect also is undertaken earlier and more aggressively. Although the mortality rates for these conditions remain higher than desired, salvage of many previously doomed patients now is a reality
