Left ventricular rupture following mitral valve replacement secondary to chronic steroid use

Abstract

Ventricular rupture is a rare but fatal complication of mitral valve replacement. We present two patients who died of left ventricular rupture with chronic steroid use as a common factor. Several precautions were taken despite which we encountered this disastrous complication. We believe that the friable nature of the tissues of patients on long-term steroids may be a predisposing factor for the development of left ventricular rupture.