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Subacute Left Ventricular Free Wall Rupture after Delayed STEMI Presentation During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Remo Albiero1, Giuseppe Seresini1
1Interventional Cardiology Unit, Cardiology Department, Sondrio Hospital, Sondrio, Italy.
Insights
Patients delayed seeking care for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) due to COVID-19 fears, leading to rare complications like left ventricular free wall rupture. Prompt surgical repair was necessary for this extensive heart attack case.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted healthcare, leading to delayed medical presentations.
- Fear of hospital-acquired infection is a significant barrier to seeking timely care during the pandemic.
- Delayed presentations of acute cardiovascular events, like STEMI, can result in more severe complications.
Abstract:
The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is causing delayed ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) presentations associated with now unusual postinfarction complications. We describe a delayed (5-day) STEMI presentation because the patient feared contracting COVID-19 in the hospital. The patient experienced an extensive anterolateral STEMI complicated by subacute left ventricular free wall rupture that required a rapid surgical repair. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.).
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