The occurrence of myocardial rupture was studied in a well defined unselected population of patients with acute myocardial infarction, and the group of patients who died of rupture of the heart were compared with two control groups. Of a total of 3960 patients, 1746 (44%) fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for acute myocardial infarction. Rupture was defined solely on the basis of the presence o...

A 78-year-old asymptomatic male with a history of coronary artery disease was admitted for preoperative cardiovascular evaluation before noncardiac surgery. Auscultation revealed a Grade 3 holosystolic murmur at the left parasternal area. Transthoracic echocardiography documented ventricular double rupture (VDR), consisting of ventricular septal rupture, and rupture of the apical part of the le...

A 48-year old man complained of dyspnoea and palpitation for 6 h. There was no history of trauma and angina. The initial ECG and laboratory tests showed no evidence of myocardial infarction. Computed tomographic angiography revealed left ventricular free wall rupture while coronary angiography was negative. Surgical intervention was carried out, and the perforation was repaired (Figs 1 and 2). ...

Dobutamine stress echocardiography is associated with a very low rate of serious complications, lower than 0.5% (death, infarction or sustained ventricular tachycardia). We report the case of a 75 year-old female patient that suffered a fatal left ventricular free wall rupture during a dobutamine stress echocardiography after acute myocardial infarction.

Left ventricular free wall rupture (LFWR) is rare, but is one of the most serious complications of myocardial infarction and is associated with high mortality. Several operative techniques have been attempted, but early diagnosis and prompt surgical management are crucial for a positive patient outcome. We report three cases of LFWR successfully treated with surgical methods.

Common clinical features of subacute rupture left ventricular free wall after acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction are: (1) recurrent or persistent chest pain; (2) recurrent or persistent ST segment elevation; (3) hypotension. Integrating these signs into a syndrome can increase the clinician's awareness to the fatal complication.

BACKGROUND Possible changes in the incidence and outcome of cardiac rupture in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction over a long period of time have not been investigated. METHODS AND RESULTS The incidence of cardiac rupture in ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients and its mortality rate were investigated during a 30-year period divided into 5 intervals (1977 to 1982, 1983 to...

acute myocardial infarction can culminate in sudden cardiac death due to cardiogenic shock and ventricular fibrillation, and also rarely due to cardiac rupture. we present a case of post-infarction myocardial rupture after thrombolytic therapy diagnosed with transthoracic echocardiography and treated with direct closure and coronary artery bypass grafting.