Pulseless electrical activity after myocardial infarction: not always a left ventricular free wall rupture
Didier Bresson1, Nicolas Girerd, Anissa Bouali
1Intensive Care Unit, Louis Pradel Cardiology Hospital, Bron, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France.
Abstract:
Pulseless electrical activity (PEA) after acute myocardial infarction is classically caused by ventricular free wall rupture. We report the case of a 76-year-old woman who presented a cardiac arrest with PEA 5 days after an embolic acute myocardial infarction. Transthoracic echocardiogram showed a massive mitral regurgitation due to posterior papillary muscle rupture. This case demonstrates that other causes potentially treatable than cardiac tamponade must be sought in patients with PEA after myocardial infarction.
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