Echocardiography allows early detection and long-term survival after infarct free wall rupture

Approximately one third of free wall infarct ruptures are subacute and theoretically accessible for surgery. Two-dimensional echocardiography is an important tool in the early diagnosis of cardiac rupture. We report the successful treatment of a 74-year-old woman with subacute free wall rupture, who is still alive 3 years after surgery.