Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 7, 2026

A Standardized Procedure of Dressing Management for Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis
07:22

A Standardized Procedure of Dressing Management for Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis

Published on: March 14, 2025

A life-saving case of Dressler's syndrome

Cara Hendry1, Chee K Liew, Anoop Chauhan

  • 1Lancashire Cardiac Centre, Blackpool Victoria Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Blackpool, Lancashire, UK.

European Heart Journal. Acute Cardiovascular Care
|September 25, 2013
PubMed

Insights

A rare case of late ventricular rupture after myocardial infarction was successfully treated. Dressler's syndrome, an inflammatory complication, unexpectedly tamponaded the rupture, saving the patient's life.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Medical Case Reports

Background:

  • Myocardial rupture is a rare but fatal complication of acute myocardial infarction.
  • Late presentations of myocardial rupture are exceptionally uncommon.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report a unique case of late ventricular rupture following myocardial infarction.
  • To illustrate the diagnostic findings and management of this rare event.

Main Methods:

  • Case report detailing a patient with late myocardial infarction complications.
  • Inclusion of cardiac computed tomography and intra-operative imaging findings.
  • Description of the clinical course and management.

Main Results:

  • The patient presented with late signs of ventricular rupture post-myocardial infarction.
  • Cardiac computed tomography revealed findings consistent with rupture.
  • The patient survived due to the development of Dressler's syndrome, which caused adhesions that tamponaded the rupture.

Conclusions:

  • Dressler's syndrome can, in rare instances, have a protective effect in myocardial rupture by causing adhesions.
  • This case highlights an unusual mechanism of survival in a typically fatal condition.
  • Late ventricular rupture requires prompt recognition and management, even with atypical presentations.

Keywords:
Dressler’s syndromeMyocardial rupturecomplicationsemergency cardiac surgeryleft ventricular aneurysmmyocardial infarctionpericardial effusion

Related Concept Videos

Cardiomyopathy II: Dilated Cardiomyopathy01:30

Cardiomyopathy II: Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Dilated cardiomyopathy, or DCM, is a progressive myocardial disorder characterized by ventricular chamber dilation and contractile dysfunction.EtiologyVarious factors can cause DCM, including hypertension and heavy alcohol intake, which contribute to the weakening and enlargement of the heart muscle. Viral infections, such as Coxsackievirus B, adenoviruses, and influenza, can lead to DCM by causing inflammation and damage to heart tissue. Certain chemotherapeutic agents, including daunorubicin,...
Diabetic Ketoacidosis l: Introduction01:25

Diabetic Ketoacidosis l: Introduction

DefinitionDiabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is an acute, life-threatening complication of diabetes mellitus, characterized by a triad of hyperglycemia (blood glucose >250 mg/dL), ketonemia or ketonuria, and metabolic acidosis (arterial pH <7.30 and serum bicarbonate <18 mEq/L). It results from insulin deficiency combined with elevated levels of counterregulatory hormones—glucagon, catecholamines, cortisol, and growth hormone—leading to increased lipolysis, hepatic ketone production, and...
Peripheral Arterial Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Evaluation01:21

Peripheral Arterial Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Evaluation

Clinical manifestationsPeripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) manifests through a range of symptoms, from the characteristic intermittent claudication to atypical presentations and severe complications in advanced stages. Intermittent claudication, a hallmark symptom of PAD, presents as exercise-induced muscle pain that typically resolves within minutes of rest. This pain is reproducible and stems from inadequate blood flow, leading to the accumulation of lactic acid produced during anaerobic...
Diphtheria01:28

Diphtheria

Diphtheria is an acute, toxin-mediated infectious disease that primarily affects the upper respiratory tract. It is caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, a Gram-positive, pleomorphic rod that lacks spore-forming capability and exhibits a characteristic club-shaped morphology under microscopic examination. While C. diphtheriae can asymptomatically colonize mucosal surfaces, clinical disease manifests only when the bacterial strain is lysogenized by a specific β-corynephage. This phage...
Disorder of Water Balance01:29

Disorder of Water Balance

Water balance disorders are medical conditions that occur when there is a deviation from the body's water volume or osmolarity, disrupting normal homeostasis and leading todehydration, hypotonic hydration, hyperhydration, edema, or water intoxication.
Dehydration
Dehydration occurs when the body loses fluids (particularly water).
Causes:
The major causes of dehydration include excessive sweating, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and diuresis.
Signs and Symptoms:
Symptoms primarily include intense...
Cardiomyopathy V: Interprofessional Care01:29

Cardiomyopathy V: Interprofessional Care

Managing cardiomyopathy involves addressing underlying or precipitating causes, treating heart failure with medications, and implementing dietary changes and a balanced exercise and rest regimen.Lifestyle ModificationsCardiomyopathy patients should adopt a low-sodium diet to reduce fluid retention and manage heart failure. A personalized exercise and rest plan helps maintain physical fitness without overstraining the heart. Avoiding alcohol and tobacco is essential to prevent further damage to...