Diagnosis of cardiac rupture with the use of contrast-enhanced echocardiography
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Updated: Oct 13, 2026

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Published on: October 24, 2020
1Cardiovascular Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Insights
Contrast-enhanced echocardiography is a safe and effective tool for diagnosing subacute cardiac rupture. This imaging technique accurately identified cardiac rupture in two patients by visualizing contrast material leakage.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Subacute cardiac rupture is a rare but life-threatening complication.
- Accurate and timely diagnosis is crucial for patient management.
Observation:
- Contrast-enhanced echocardiography was utilized in three patients with suspected subacute cardiac rupture.
- The procedure involved injecting contrast material to visualize cardiac structures and potential leaks.
Findings:
- Extravasation of contrast material into the extracardiac space confirmed subacute cardiac rupture in two patients.
- The absence of contrast extravasation aided in excluding active hemorrhage in the third patient.
- Contrast echocardiography demonstrated high safety and applicability in these cases.
Implications:
- Contrast-enhanced echocardiography offers a reliable method for diagnosing subacute cardiac rupture.
- This technique can differentiate active cardiac rupture from other conditions.
- The findings support the integration of contrast echocardiography into the diagnostic workup for suspected cardiac rupture.
Abstract:
We describe 3 patients with suspected subacute cardiac rupture in whom contrast-enhanced echocardiography played a key role in the diagnosis. In 2 patients, extravasation of the contrast material into the extracardiac space provided direct evidence of subacute cardiac rupture. Absence of this feature helped to exclude cardiac rupture with active hemorrhage into the pericardial space in the third patient. These 3 cases illustrate the safety and applicability of contrast echocardiography in patients with suspected cardiac rupture.
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