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Implantation of Total Artificial Heart in Congenital Heart Disease
Published on: July 18, 2014
Presentation with pulsatile xiphisternal bruise-Survival with a chronic ventricular rupture
Nigel Pinto1, David Platts, Bruce Thomson
1Critical Care Research Group, Departments of Cardiology, Cardiac Surgery and Adult Intensive Care, The Prince Charles Hospital, 106 Dunellan Street, Greenslopes, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Abstract:
Ventricular free wall rupture is an acute, severe complication of myocardial infarction (MI). Accounting for 20-30% of MI mortality, ventricular rupture is fatal if not detected early and repaired surgically. The unique case of a delayed, chronic rupture is reported in a 64 year-old male who presented with a painless, pulsatile, sub-xiphisternal bruise, five years post MI. Trans-thoracic echocardiography (TTE) revealed haematoma extending posteriorly with only contrast echocardiography revealing an active communication between the sub-dermal area and the heart. Urgent surgery and a prolonged period in ICU enabled sufficient enough recovery for discharge.
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