Subacute cardiac rupture: a surgical emergency

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Cardiac Surgery

Background:

• Subacute cardiac rupture is a rare but life-threatening complication following acute myocardial infarction.
• Early recognition and intervention are critical for patient survival.

Observation:

• Three cases of subacute cardiac rupture presenting as sudden collapse during convalescence are reported.
• Patients developed cardiogenic shock due to hemopericardium and cardiac tamponade.
• Two patients exhibited electromechanical dissociation with nodal bradycardia during collapse.

Findings:

• Echocardiography confirmed pericardial effusion in all three patients.
• Urgent surgical intervention (infarctectomy and Teflon patching) was performed.
• One of three patients survived the surgery and postoperative period.

Implications:

• Subacute cardiac rupture requires prompt diagnosis and surgical management.
• Despite surgical intervention, the prognosis remains guarded.
• Further research into optimizing treatment strategies for cardiac rupture is warranted.