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Transthoracic Echocardiography to Assess Post-Resuscitation Left Ventricular Dysfunction After Acute Myocardial Infarction and Cardiac Arrest in Pigs
08:19

Transthoracic Echocardiography to Assess Post-Resuscitation Left Ventricular Dysfunction After Acute Myocardial Infarction and Cardiac Arrest in Pigs

Published on: July 12, 2022

Timely diagnosis of left ventricular posterior wall rupture by echocardiography: a case report

Maryam Esmaeilzadeh1, Ahmad Mirdamadi, Majid Kiavar

  • 1Shaheed Rajaei Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center; Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

The Journal of Tehran Heart Center
|October 18, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Left ventricular free wall rupture, a rare complication of myocardial infarction, can be diagnosed via echocardiography. This case highlights a delayed diagnosis in a patient with inferior wall myocardial infarction.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Cardiac Surgery
  • Medical Diagnostics

Background:

  • Left ventricular free wall rupture is a critical complication of myocardial infarction, contributing to significant in-hospital mortality.
  • Diagnosis is often challenging, with antemortem identification being infrequent.
  • Rupture typically occurs 1-4 days post-myocardial infarction, often associated with specific patient demographics and infarction characteristics.

Observation:

  • A 66-year-old male presented with hemodynamic decompensation 9 days after inferior wall myocardial infarction.
  • Transthoracic echocardiography revealed massive pericardial effusion and tamponade.
  • A large hematoma suggestive of cardiac rupture was identified within the pericardial effusion.

Findings:

  • The patient experienced a delayed presentation of left ventricular free wall rupture.
  • Echocardiography successfully identified the complication, guiding emergent surgical intervention.
  • Surgical exploration confirmed a rupture in the posterior wall of the left ventricle.

Implications:

  • This case underscores the importance of considering delayed cardiac rupture in patients with myocardial infarction presenting with hemodynamic instability.
  • Echocardiography is a crucial tool for the rapid diagnosis of cardiac rupture and tamponade.
  • Timely surgical intervention is vital for managing this life-threatening complication.

Keywords:
Cardiac tamponadeHeart rupturePericardial effusion

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