Subacute left ventricular free wall rupture following acute myocardial infarction: bedside hemodynamics, differential diagnosis, and treatment

Medium-term echocardiographic follow-up of systolic and diastolic left ventricular abnormalities after surgical treatment of subacute rupture

Subacute rupture of the left ventricular free wall is a complication that occurs during the acute phase of a myocardial infarction. The subacute presentation makes surgical management possible. However, it is not known whether either pericardial manipulation or the use of pericardial patches influences left ventricular function over the medium term. Our aim was to monitor changes in left ventricular function and the development of constrictive pericarditis over the medium term in patients who had been treated surgically for subacute rupture of the left ventricle. Eleven patients with subacute rupture underwent surgery, of whom six were followed up over the medium term. A modest improvement in left ventricular systolic function was observed and there was no evidence of constrictive pericarditis. In conclusion, the surgical approach appears to be safe over the medium term and had no influence on left ventricular function. Nor did it lead to the development of constrictive pericarditis.

Left ventricular free-wall rupture in acute myocardial infarction : a blow-out type case

One of the most serious complications following acute myocardial infarction is left ventricular free-wall rupture (LVFWR). There are two different types of anatomical-pathological rupture: (i) the 'oozing' type, characterized by perforation, which allows enough time for diagnosis and surgery; and (ii) the blow-out type characterized by rapid, irreversible, electromechanical dissociation, shock and death within a few minutes due to massive haemorrhages into the pericardial cavity. Consequently, the prevention of LVFWR could save more lives than treatment, and early recognition and diagnosis could be more beneficial than potentially life-saving therapeutic intervention. A better understanding of the pathogenesis of LVFWR could improve the survival rate of patients with LVFWR. This article reports a blow-out type case of LVFWR, together with a review of the literature including risk factors, pathophysiology, clinical manifestation, diagnosis, surgical treatment and adjunctive therapies.

Subacute rupture of the free left ventricular wall following acute myocardial infarction. Report of an atypical case with successful surgical repair

In previously published cases of subacute or sealed postinfarction rupture of the free left ventricular wall, the patients presented a clinical picture of sudden shock and tamponade. Our patient, a 64-year-old man, suffered renewed chest pain on the fourth postinfarction day and went into cardiogenic shock, which was pharmacologically reversible. There were no bed-side signs of tamponade and the ECG showed the pattern of acute pericarditis, both features in contrast to previously reported cases in the literature. Echocardiography demonstrated localized fluid in the pericardial sac and a puncture revealed non-coagulating blood. The patient was successfully operated on. At surgery a small rupture sealed by blood clots was demonstrated in the infarcted inferior wall of the left ventricle.

Survival without surgical repair of acute rupture of the right ventricular free wall

Rupture of the myocardial free wall is an infrequent complication of acute myocardial infarction. Unless it occurs in a space confined by pericardial adhesions, only surgical emergency repair of ruptured myocardium can prevent death. In this paper we report the case of an 81-year-old woman who was admitted to the emergency room with cardiac tamponade, resulting from inferolateral acute myocardial infarction and a subsequent rupture of the right ventricular free wall, with the formation of pericardial thrombus and effusion. The patient refused to undergo any surgical or invasive intervention, and therefore she was only treated conservatively. Nevertheless, her condition improved dramatically, as her blood pressure increased and echocardiography abnormalities almost disappeared. Follow-up echocardiography 7 months post discharge was unremarkable. We believe that this rare case emphasizes that in special circumstances, such as creation of a thrombus that prevents more blood from extravasating, free-wall rupture without surgical repair is compatible with long-term survival.

Cardiac rupture complicating myocardial infarction

Rupture of the ventricular free wall is a leading cause of death in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI). There are a number of risk indicators that are associated with cardiac rupture, such as female gender, old age, hypertension, and first MI. Typical symptoms of cardiac rupture are recurrent or persistent chest pain, syncope, and distension of jugular veins. Electrocardiographic signs may include sinus tachycardia, new Q-waves in 2 or more leads, persistent or recurrent ST segment elevation, deviation of expected evolutionary T-wave pattern, and electromechanical dissociation in end-stage cases. Once patients at risk have been identified using clinical symptoms and electrocardiographic signs, a fast and sensitive diagnostic test to confirm cardiac rupture is transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). New insights in the etiology of subacute myocardial rupture suggests that defective cardiac remodeling may predispose the heart for rupture. The matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) system has been shown to play an important role in cardiac extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and cardiac rupture. Current therapy of cardiac rupture consists mainly of surgery, and conservative management with hemodynamic monitoring, prolonged bed rest, beta-blockers, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors in selected cases.

Midterm clinical and echocardiographic results with patch glue repair of left ventricular free wall rupture

BACKGROUND

Left ventricular free wall rupture (LVFWR) is a dramatic complication after myocardial infarction. We present our mid-term clinical and echocardiographic results of LVFWR with an epicardial patch without cardiopulmonary bypass.

METHODS

From February 1993 to May 2001, 17 patients underwent surgery for LVFWR. The mean age+/-SD of 12 males and 5 females was 68+/-10 years. All patients presented for emergency surgery with cardiac tamponade confirmed on echocardiography. After opening the chest and identification of the site of rupture, a Goretex patch was fashioned and applied with enbucrilate surgical glue.

RESULTS

Effective control of bleeding was achieved in all cases. There were no on-table deaths. The operative (30 day) mortality was 23.5% (4/17). One death occurred because of patch failure, two because of cardiogenic shock, and one from pneumonia. On follow-up at a median of 2.2 years (interquartile range, 1.1 to 4.3 years), two further deaths occurred, one from myocardial infarction and another of undetermined etiology. Echocardiography did not reveal any evidence of restriction to left ventricular free wall motion.

CONCLUSIONS

Patch glue repair is expedient, simple and effective; with no adverse effects on mid-term ventricular dynamics. In view of superior published results to infarctectomy and repair with extra corporeal circulation, it should be considered to be the initial procedure of choice for the surgical repair of LVFWR.

Ventricular free wall rupture following acute myocardial infarction

SUMMARY

Ventricular free wall rupture remains a dreaded complication of acute myocardial infarction. A dramatic fatal presentation is not universal and if recognized early, especially in its sub-acute form, a therapeutic intervention may be lifesaving. Changing trends in its natural history and the previously described pathological subtypes have emerged since the advent of thrombolysis. Although frequently unpredictable, certain clinical, echocardiographic and electrocardiographic signs should suggest the diagnosis. Moreover, knowledge of predisposing risk factors and a high index of suspicion are helpful in early recognition of this complication. In recent years, several different therapeutic approaches have been described including percutaneous seals and surgical mechanical closure of ventricular free wall rupture. In this review, we sought to highlight established and debatable aspects of this pathology to hopefully enhance prompt diagnosis and treatment by all clinicians caring for patients suffering acute myocardial infarction.

Clinical course, timing of rupture and relationship with coronary recanalization therapy in 77 patients with ventricular free wall rupture following acute myocardial infarction

This study aimed to analyze the clinical course, timing of rupture and relationship with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with cardiac free wall rupture (FWR) following acute myocardial infarction (AMI). FWR was observed in 77 (2.3%) of 3, 284 patients with AMI in our CCU over 28 years. 47 (61.0%) cases were male and mean of age was 69.8 year old. Rupture occurred on Day 1 of infarction in 46 patients (59.7%). 22 cases (28.6%) had cardiogenic shock before FWR. 10 cases (13.0%) had double rupture preceded by ventricular septal perforation (VSP). 25 cases (32.5%) were treated with thrombolytic agents, and only 10 cases (13.0%) had percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Before 1981, when PCI was not indicated, incidence of FWR was 2.7%. After 1988 (the era of PCI), the incidence decreased to 1.1%. FWR and the era showed a significant negative correlation (r=0.519: P=0.0056). Rupture was abrupt in 51 cases (66.2%: abrupt type) and was gradual in 26 cases (33.8%: oozing type). The percentages of female, patients with cardiogenic shock before rupture, patients treated by thrombolytic agents and survival rate were significantly higher in the slow-onset rupture group than in the abrupt-onset rupture group. The percentage of patients treated by PCI was extremely low (7.8%) in abrupt-onset group. Of all patients, only 8 (10.4%) survived by emergency operation. One patient with abrupt type survived emergency pericardiotomy in the CCU. One patient with abrupt type and 4 patients with oozing type who had emergency operation in operation room survived. 2 patients with oozing type survived by pericardial drainage and strict blood pressure control. We conclude that early recognition and emergency surgery without thrombolytic therapy may substantially reduce mortality in oozing ruptures. Moreover, immediate and adequate reperfusion by PCI may prevent development of abrupt rupture following acute myocardial infarction.

Unusual form of cardiac rupture: sealed subacute left ventricular free wall rupture, evolving to intramyocardial dissecting hematoma and to pseudoaneurysm formation--a case report and review of the literature

This report describes an unusual course of rupture of the left ventricular free wall, complicating acute myocardial infarction. Spontaneous sealing of the rupture site enabled close echocardiographic follow-up, during which we monitored the development of intramyocardial dissecting hematoma and, finally, development of a full tear in the left ventricular free wall, leading to the formation of a pseudoaneurysm. The pathophysiology, management, and diagnostic criteria of these processes are being revised.

Cardiogenic shock due to cardiac free-wall rupture or tamponade after acute myocardial infarction: a report from the SHOCK Trial Registry. Should we emergently revascularize occluded coronaries for cardiogenic shock?

OBJECTIVES

We sought to compare the characteristics and outcomes of patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) and cardiogenic shock (CS) caused by rupture of the ventricular free wall or tamponade versus shock from other causes.

BACKGROUND

Free-wall rupture is a recognized cause of mortality in patients with acute MI. Some of these patients present subacutely, which provides an opportunity for intervention. Recognition of factors that distinguish them from the overall shock cohort would be beneficial.

METHODS

The international SHOCK Trial Registry enrolled patients concurrently with the randomized SHOCK Trial. Thirty-six centers consecutively enrolled all patients with suspected CS after MI, regardless of trial eligibility.

RESULTS

Of the 1,048 patients studied, 28 (2.7%) had free-wall rupture or tamponade. These patients had less pulmonary edema, less diabetes, less prior MI, and less prior congestive heart failure (all p < 0.05). They more often had new Q waves in two or more leads (51.9% vs. 31.5%, p < 0.04), but MI location and time to shock onset after MI did not differ. Of patients with rupture or tamponade, 75% had pericardial effusions. No hemodynamic characteristics identified patients with rupture/tamponade. Most patients with rupture/tamponade had surgery and/or pericardiocentesis (27/28); their in-hospital survival rate was identical to that of the group overall (39.3%). Women and older patients with rupture/tamponade tended to survive intervention less often.

CONCLUSIONS

Free-wall rupture and tamponade may present as CS after MI, and survival after intervention is similar to that of the overall shock cohort. All patients with CS after MI should have echocardiography in order to detect subacute rupture or tamponade and initiate appropriate interventions.

Diagnostic criteria and management of subacute ventricular free wall rupture complicating acute myocardial infarction

In this prospective study we evaluated the value of the main diagnostic criteria for postinfarction subacute rupture of the ventricular free wall. Two-dimensional echocardiograms and recordings of right atrial pressure and waveform were immediately obtained in every patient exhibiting rapid clinical and/or hemodynamic compromise in the acute infarction setting. The same protocol was applied to patients referred from other hospitals for suspected myocardial rupture. In 28 cases a subacute free wall rupture was identified. In most of the patients the diagnosis was based on the demonstration of hemopericardium and cardiac tamponade by echocardiography, cardiac catheterization and, occasionally, by pericardiocentesis. In 2 instances, the identification of intrapericardial echo densities suggesting clots, in the absence of cardiac tamponade, allowed a diagnosis of subacute rupture. Direct, but indistinct visualization of myocardial rupture was obtained in 4 cases. Among the 28 patients with this complication, 4 died while awaiting surgery and 24 underwent surgical repair (mortality rate 33%). Long-term outcome of survivors was favorable. Various myocardial lesions underlie postinfarction subacute free wall rupture. Clinical presentation varied widely. The diagnosis was based, usually but not always, on the association of hemopericardium and signs of cardiac tamponade. An organized approach to management of this complication of acute myocardial infarction was suggested.

Medical management of selected patients with left ventricular free wall rupture during acute myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to evaluate the effects of prolonged rest and blood pressure control on survival of patients in whom left ventricular free wall rupture (LVFWR) was strongly suspected.

BACKGROUND

Left ventricular free wall rupture in myocardial infarction is often fatal, and only a few patients may undergo operation. However, survival without surgical repair has not yet been evaluated.

METHODS

Eighty-one consecutive patients with a first transmural acute myocardial infarction in Killip class I or II who presented with acute hypotension due to cardiac tamponade, with electromechanical dissociation (EMD) in 72, were prospectively evaluated. Patients with early recovery were managed with prolonged bed rest and blood pressure control with beta-blockade as tolerated.

RESULTS

Forty-seven patients died within 2 h of acute tamponade, and autopsy in 21 showed LVFWR in all. In 15 others, an emergency surgical repair resulted in 2 survivors. The remaining 19 patients, 10 with EMD, had early recovery with dobutamine and colloid solution, and 15 required pericardiocentesis. Shortly thereafter, these 19 patients still showed a paradoxic pulse > or = 20 mm Hg, relevant pericardial effusion (24 +/- 7 mm [mean +/- SD]) and comparable elevation of right and left ventricular filling pressures (15.8 +/- 3.9 and 15.9 +/- 3.8 mm Hg, respectively). Subsequent management included bed rest (8.2 +/- 4.8 days) and control of systolic blood pressure (< or = 120 mm Hg) with beta-adrenergic blocking agents as tolerated (n = 12). Four patients died, and autopsy in three revealed a rupture that was sealed in two. A sealed rupture was also seen at thoracotomy in 2 other patients who, like the remaining 13, survived for 52.5 +/- 35.2 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term survival of selected patients with prompt hemodynamic recovery after LVFWR is possible without surgical repair. Prolonged bed rest and blood pressure control are likely to contribute favorably to their initial outcome.

Subacute rupture of the left ventricular free wall after acute myocardial infarction. Three cases of long-term survival without emergency surgical repair

Rupture of the left ventricular free wall after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has been regarded as uniformly fatal unless emergency surgical repair is performed. Among 2,862 patients admitted with AMI to our ICU during the last 8 years, 107 patients developed rupture of the left ventricular free wall. Twenty-nine patients had a subacute course and three of them survived for prolonged periods without having to have emergency surgical repair. At the onset of rupture on day 1 through 7 after AMI, the three survivors developed sudden hypotension accompanied by a new pericardial effusion. They were initially managed with hemodynamic support. Two patients had elective open-heart surgery 2 to 3 months after AMI, whereas one patient did nt require surgery. All three survived 1 1/2 to 8 1/2 years after AMI. This report indicates that a small subset of patients with subacute ventricular free wall rupture has a benign course that may allow for prolonged survival without having to have emergency surgical repair.

The potential impact of the thrombolytic era on cardiac rupture complicating acute myocardial infarction

Cardiac rupture complicating acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains a serious diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. The authors present 27 consecutive patients who died from cardiac rupture following AMI. These included 22 patients from 1975 through 1983 (prethrombolytic era) and 5 patients from 1984 through 1992 (postthrombolytic era) and all had postmortem examination. There were 16 men and 11 women with a mean age of seventy-two years. Myocardial infarction was anterior/anterolateral in 10 and inferior/inferoposterior in 17. Cardiac rupture followed AMI within one day in 14 (52%), two to five days in 8 (30%), and six to fourteen days in 5 (18%). Chest pain followed by sudden hypotension leading to electromechanical dissociation was the common terminal event. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was unsuccessful in all patients. Postmortem findings showed three-vessel coronary disease in 21 (78%) and two-vessel disease in 6 (22%). Isolated free left ventricular wall rupture was found in 22 (81%), was anterior/anterolateral in 13 (48%), posterior in 9 (33%), and in conjunction with interventricular septum or papillary muscle in 5 (18%). Patients encountered in this series were mostly elderly hypertensives with multivessel coronary disease and postinfarction angina. Furthermore, cardiac rupture commonly occurred within the first five days of AMI and cardiopulmonary resuscitation was uniformly unsuccessful. During the thrombolytic era at their institution, this complication is now being seen much less often. These observations suggest that such interventions are expected to have a favorable impact on reducing the incidence of this catastrophic event.

Ischemia right ventricular dysfunction

For many years ischemic heart disease involving the right ventricle had received little attention. During the last 15 years, the initial works of Cohn, Isner, and others spawned a number of clinical and experimental studies that extended the understanding of the pathophysiology of ischemia in the right ventricle. Most of the work has been done in the setting of acute myocardial infarction, and information is still lacking in other conditions, such as chronic ischemic heart disease and perioperative right ventricular dysfunction. Acute right ventricular infarction rarely occurs in the absence of left ventricular necrosis and in most cases is the extension of an inferior left ventricular infarct. The majority of patients with right ventricular infarction only exhibit subtle signs of ischemic dysfunction. Elevated right atrial pressure is found only in the typical syndrome of elevated venous pressure; low output syndrome can be found only in 20% of the cases, and cardiogenic shock secondary to right ventricular necrosis is found only in 10%. It is also important to note that there is not a clear correlation between the severity of ischemic right ventricular dysfunction and the necrotic area. The discrepancy may be due to ischemia without necrosis of the right ventricular wall (stunned myocardium), but the intact pericardium and the necrosis of the interventricular septum may also play an important role. In the most severe form of ischemic right ventricular dysfunction, the entire right ventricular wall is akinetic. Right atrial, right ventricular, and pulmonary artery pressures become similar in magnitude and shape, and the pulmonary valve is opened during diastole, demonstrating a passive blood flow from the right atrium to the left ventricle through the low resistance pulmonary capillary bed. Volume loading, administration of dopamine or dobutamine, and careful use of vasodilators under hemodynamic monitoring are the therapeutic measures to control the severe forms of acute ischemic right ventricular dysfunction. The use of thrombolytic agents has decreased the incidence of right ventricular dysfunction after acute myocardial infarction. Mortality is high in the severe forms of acute ischemic right ventricular dysfunction, but after discharge from hospital the prognosis is good and right heart failure is unusual, even in those patients with shock during the first days of evolution of the infarct.

Subacute ventricular free wall rupture complicating myocardial infarction

Myocardial free wall rupture accounts for between 8% and 17% of mortality after myocardial infarction. In up to 40% of cases death occurs subacutely over a matter of hours, not minutes. Illustrative clinical cases and data suggest that a high degree of clinical suspicion, along with the early use of echocardiography, could significantly reduce mortality resulting from myocardial free wall rupture complicating myocardial infarction. Myocardial free wall rupture should be suspected in patients with recent myocardial infarction who have recurrent or persistent chest pain, hemodynamic instability, syncope, pericardial tamponade, or transient electromechanical dissociation. In this clinical situation, emergent echocardiography showing a pericardial effusion or pericardial thrombus is highly suggestive of free wall rupture. Surgical exploration and rupture repair is the definitive diagnostic and therapeutic procedure.

Subacute cardiac rupture: repair with a sutureless technique

Thirteen patients with ages between 53 and 74 years had development of free wall left ventricular rupture after a myocardial infarction (mean interval, 3.8 days). All patients showed clinical signs of cardiac tamponade. Diagnosis was established by bedside multiple pressure monitoring and echocardiography, which showed pericardial effusion with compression of the right ventricle. Cardiac catheterization was not performed. A new surgical technique was employed for the repair. After the pericardium was opened and cardiac tamponade was relieved, the myocardial tear was identified. A Teflon patch was applied over the area and glued to the heart surface with a surgical glue (cyanoacrylate). Cardiopulmonary bypass was not used except in a patient with a posterior tear. The method was consistently effective in controlling bleeding from the myocardial tear. All patients survived the operation and were discharged from the hospital a mean of 15 days after the operation. Follow-up extending up to 5 years (mean, 26 months) shows a 100% survival, 11 asymptomatic patients, and 2 patients with mild exertional angina. The technique is a simple, effective, and safe method for repair of subacute cardiac rupture and obviates the need for suturing on an infarcted ventricle.

Diagnosis of subacute ventricular wall rupture after acute myocardial infarction: sensitivity and specificity of clinical, hemodynamic and echocardiographic criteria

When ventricular free wall rupture after acute myocardial infarction is not followed by sudden death, it is referred to as subacute ventricular rupture. The sensitivity and specificity of clinical, hemodynamic and echocardiographic diagnostic variables obtained at bedside are unknown and were therefore prospectively studied in 1,247 consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction including 33 patients with subacute ventricular rupture diagnosed at operation (group A) and 1,214 patients without ventricular rupture (at operation, postmortem study or at discharge) (group B). The incidence of syncope, recurrent chest pain, hypotension, electromechanical dissociation, cardiac tamponade, pericardial effusion, high acoustic intrapericardial echoes, right atrial and right ventricular wall compression identified in two-dimensional echocardiograms and hemopericardium demonstrated during pericardiocentesis was higher in group A than in group B (p less than 0.00001). The presence of cardiac tamponade, pericardial effusion greater than 5 mm, high density intrapericardial echoes or right atrial or right ventricular wall compression had a high diagnostic sensitivity (greater than or equal to 70%) and specificity (greater than 90%). The number of false positive diagnoses was always high for each diagnostic variable alone (greater than 20%), but the combination of clinical (hypotension), hemodynamic (cardiac tamponade) and echocardiographic variables allowed a sensitivity of greater than or equal to 65% with a small number of false positive diagnoses (less than 10%) and provided useful information for therapeutic decisions. The diagnosis of subacute ventricular rupture requires a surgical decision. Twenty-five (76%) of the 33 patients with subacute ventricular rupture survived the surgical procedure and 16 (48.5%) are long-term survivors. Thus, subacute ventricular wall rupture is a relatively frequent complication after acute myocardial infarction that can be accurately diagnosed and successfully treated.

Cardiac tamponade early after thrombolysis for acute myocardial infarction: a rare but not reported hemorrhagic complication

Among 392 consecutive patients admitted for acute myocardial infarction and treated with thrombolytic drugs, 4 patients (1%) developed an early hemorrhagic pericardial effusion (without ventricular wall rupture) evolving within 24 h to cardiogenic shock consequent to cardiac tamponade. They all suffered from a large anterior myocardial infarction treated within 4 h after onset of symptoms with intravenous anisoylated plasminogen streptokinase activator complex (one case), recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) (two cases) or streptokinase (one case), anticoagulation with heparin (all cases) and aspirin (three cases). As soon as pericardial effusion was established by echocardiography, emergency percutaneous pericardiocentesis was performed at the bedside 20 +/- 6 h after thrombolytic therapy was started. This corrected immediately the clinical and hemodynamic status of each patient and a catheter was left in the pericardial space for 34 +/- 18 h. Thus, in the presence of unexplained clinical and hemodynamic deterioration occurring during the first 24 h after thrombolytic treatment of a large myocardial infarction, cardiac tamponade should be suspected. Immediate percutaneous pericardiocentesis followed by continuous drainage is a simple and definitive treatment for this complication.

Hemodynamic efficacy of rapid saline infusion and dobutamine versus saline infusion alone in a model of cardiac rupture

Despite recent reports describing survival after cardiac rupture, the effectiveness of circulatory support while awaiting definitive surgical treatment is controversial. To assess the efficacy of volume expansion and pharmacologic support in cardiac tamponade due to cardiac rupture, a model of hemorrhagic cardiac tamponade was developed and treatment with rapid saline infusion and dobutamine was compared with rapid saline infusion alone in 15 closed chest dogs. A right ventricular wound of reproducible size was produced by deflating an aortic valvuloplasty balloon that had previously been passed by way of the internal jugular vein into the pericardial space and through a stab wound in the right ventricular free wall. Hemodynamic values were compared at baseline, during tamponade and after a rapid infusion (1 liter at 100 ml/min) of either saline solution alone or saline solution plus dobutamine (20 micrograms/kg per min). Atrial and pericardial pressures increased significantly in both groups. Mean arterial pressure, cardiac output and stroke volume increased with combined saline and dobutamine infusion to values similar to those at baseline (91 +/- 19%, 114 +/- 43% and 94 +/- 37% of baseline, respectively). In contrast, saline infusion alone caused a small increase in cardiac output but failed to significantly increase mean arterial pressure or stroke volume (76.8 +/- 14.2%, 55 +/- 18% and 51 +/- 17% of baseline, respectively). Combined rapid infusion of saline solution and dobutamine infusion has a more beneficial hemodynamic effect and may be more effective than rapid saline infusion alone in resuscitating patients with hemorrhagic cardiac tamponade due to cardiac rupture.

Sutureless repair of postinfarction cardiac rupture

A 62-year-old female with a history of progressive angina experienced an acute myocardial infarction. Seven days later, cardiac rupture ensued. She underwent surgical repair without the aid of extracorporeal circulation. A Teflon patch was glued over the myocardial tear with medical adhesive. She recovered and is leading a normal life, 15 months after surgery.

Prediction of rupture in acute myocardial infarction

In two patient series including 809 and 327 patients, respectively, with acute myocardial infarction we have compared those who died in myocardial rupture (verified at autopsy, Group A) with those who died without rupture (autopsied, Group B), and those who survived hospitalization (Group C) with regard to previous history and clinical course in hospital. Rupture among autopsied patients was observed in 45% and 40% of the cases in the respective studies. Previous infarction was observed in each study as 0% and 0% in Group A compared with 25% and 31% in Group B, and 20% and 34% in Group C. Previous angina pectoris was observed in 26% and 22% in Group A compared with 50% and 54% in Group B and 52% and 54% in Group C. Maximum serum enzyme activity in Group A did not differ from Group B, but was higher than in Group C (p less than 0.001). Group A patients tended to have a higher initial pain score and a higher requirement of analgesics compared with other groups, whereas initial heart rate or systolic blood pressure did not differ in these patients compared to others. We thus conclude that patients with myocardial rupture have a very low occurrence of previous myocardial infarction and angina pectoris, and that their pain course appears to be particularly severe in the acute phase.

Hemodynamic effect of dextran, dobutamine, and pericardiocentesis in cardiac tamponade secondary to subacute heart rupture

Seventeen patients with acute myocardial infarction and tamponade after subacute ventricular free-wall rupture were treated with dextran, dobutamine, and pericardiocentesis before definitive surgical repair. In all of the patients the diagnosis was confirmed anatomically. Dextran (200 to 900 ml), administered to 10 patients, induced a significant increase in systolic blood pressure, cardiac index, stroke index, right atrial pressure, and pulmonary capillary pressure. Dobutamine (500 micrograms/min for 20 to 40 minutes), was infused in 16 patients and induced a significant increase in systolic blood pressure, cardiac index, stroke index, and heart rate. Pericardiocentesis, with extraction of 150 to 500 ml, was performed in five patients. It produced a significant increase in systolic blood pressure, cardiac index, and stroke index and a significant decrease in right atrial pressure and heart rate. The best results were obtained after pericardiocentesis. However, it must not be performed in every case because of its potential risk. Dextran and dobutamine may be sufficient in many cases to support these patients before surgery.

Rupture of the myocardium. Occurrence and risk factors

The occurrence of myocardial rupture was studied in a well defined unselected population of patients with acute myocardial infarction, and the group of patients who died of rupture of the heart were compared with two control groups. Of a total of 3960 patients, 1746 (44%) fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for acute myocardial infarction. Rupture was defined solely on the basis of the presence of a pathological passage through part of the myocardium, either the free wall of the left ventricle or the septum, found at necropsy or during operation. Two controls were selected for each patient and matched for age and sex, one (control group A) with acute myocardial infarction having died in hospital but not of rupture (non-rupture cardiac death) and one (control group B) with acute myocardial infarction having survived the hospital stay. Necropsy was performed in 75% of all fatal cases with acute myocardial infarction. The total hospital mortality was 19%, the highest mortality being among women over 70 years (29%). Ruptures (n = 56) were found in 17% of the hospital deaths, or 3.2% of all cases of acute myocardial infarction. Women aged less than 70 had the highest incidence of rupture, 42% of deaths being due to rupture. The mean age for patients with rupture and controls was 70.5 years. The median time after admission to death was approximately 50 hours for patients and control group A. Thirty per cent of the patients with rupture occurred within 24 hours of the initial symptoms occurring. Angina and previous acute myocardial infarction were more common among control group A. Patients with rupture and control group B were mostly relatively free of previous cardiovascular or other diseases (chronic angina pectoris ( > 2 months) and previous myocardial infarction). Sustained hypertension during admission to the coronary care unit was more common in patients than in control group A. Hypotension and shock were more common among control group A. Most (79%) of the patients who subsequently ruptured did not receive any corticosteroids at all during the hospital stay. Severe heart failure and antiarrhythmic treatment were more uncommon among patients than among control group A. Patients with rupture received analgesics approximately three times a day throughout their stay. Control group B received analgesics mostly during the first 24 hours. Thus female patients, patients with first infarcts, and patients with sustained chest pain should be investigated for the possibility of rupture. As many as one third (32%) of ruptures may be subacute, and therefore time is available for diagnosis and surgery.

Successful repair of extensive inferior myocardial infarction with septal and free wall rupture

A woman had severe cardiogenic shock complicating rupture of both the interventricular septum and the inferior free wall of the left ventricle. She survived with emergency surgery.

Delayed left ventricular free wall rupture complicating coronary artery bypass surgery. A case report

Rupture of the left ventricular free wall is a not uncommon life-threatening complication of acute myocardial infarction and after prosthetic mitral valve replacement. To our knowledge, no case of left ventricular rupture after coronary artery bypass surgery has been reported. A case is now described in which coronary artery bypass grafting was complicated by delayed rupture, which was successfully repaired. Different etiologic factors are discussed, but the cause considered most likely was trauma from elevation of and traction on the heart in exposure of its posterior aspect.

Identification of blood in the pericardial cavity in dogs by two-dimensional echocardiography

The echocardiographic characteristics of hemopericardium with and without thrombus formation were investigated in 10 dogs and compared with that of saline solution injected into the pericardial cavity. Injection of 80 to 120 ml of saline solution produced an echolucent space between both pericardial layers and was considered as the control image in each dog for comparison with hemopericardium. Injection of heparinized blood filled the pericardial cavity with irregular echoes of variable acoustical impedence. High-density echoes of irregular distribution were observed in 3 dogs, in 5 dogs the echoes were of low acoustical density and in 2 dogs blood echoes were present but scarcely visible. Injection of clotted blood in 9 dogs (adding 20 mg of protamin sulphate and 8 mg of aminocaproic acid) produced echoes of high acoustical density easily identified in the 2-dimensional echocardiographic images. In 4 dogs attenuation and damping controls were increased to the point where myocardial echoes disappeared, while intrapericardial echoes were still visible. Thus, hemopericardium with or without thrombus formation may be identified by 2-dimensional echocardiography and differentiated from other types of pericardial effusion of lower acoustical density. Echogenicity of fluid blood in the pericardial cavity may be related to blood stasis.