Ventricular free wall rupture-a rare under-diagnosed fatal complication of myocardial infarction

Ventricular free wall rupture is a rare complication of acute myocardial infarction (MI) i.e. <1.7% of cases, although it occurs more frequently than might be expected. Without imaging evidence or autopsy, sudden cardiac death in acute MI setting is commonly attributed to fatal dysrhythmias, high degree atrio-ventricular blocks or pulmonary embolism resulting in underdiagnosis of free wall rupture. Modern therapies have probably reduced the incidence but not eliminated the problem. We present a case of left ventricular free wall rupture in acute MI setting and syncopal presentation. The diagnosis was established during left heart catheterisation and further confirmed on transthoracic echocardiography. The patient deteriorated abruptly, pericardial window was made to bridge for surgical repair. Unfortunately, the patient died before surgical intervention.