Anesthetic implications of subacute left ventricular rupture following acute myocardial infarction: a case report

Rupture of the free wall of the left ventricle, a relatively common complication of acute myocardial infarction, is associated with a high mortality rate. The clinical course can vary from catastrophic, that is death, to incomplete rupture with the formation of a pseudoaneurysm. Subacute rupture is a condition that demands expeditious diagnosis and surgical repair if the patient is to survive. Surgical repair can be difficult at best. This article reports a case of subacute rupture of the left ventricle that was successfully repaired using a novel surgical technique and discusses the anesthetic implications surrounding the case.