[Death due to myocardial infarction in young patients: A study of 312 cases of sudden death]

Cardiac rupture during acute myocardial infarction : Autopsy study (2004-2020)

INTRODUCTION

Cardiac rupture is a rare but critical complication of myocardial infarction with an incidence of 1 to 3% of cases. We aimed in this autopsy study to analyze the anatomical, epidemiological, cardiac, and coronary profiles of cardiac rupture in the Monastir region.

METHODS

We conducted a descriptive study with retrospective data collection of all cases of myocardial infarction complicated by a cardiac rupture over seventeen years (2004-2020).

RESULTS

Thirty-one cases were included in this study. The mean age of the cases was 67 years with a male predominance. Sixteen cases (57%) had cardiovascular risk factors. The most common symptomatology reported before death was acute chest pain in 57% of cases. Fourteen cases (45%) corresponded to the definition of sudden cardiac death. At autopsy, the heart had a mean weight of 452.78 grams. A large hemopericardium was associated in 90% of cases. Myocardial rupture involved the posterior wall of the left ventricle in 50% of cases. The myocardial rupture occurred at a site of acute myocardial infarction in 86% of cases and on a myocardial scar in 14% of cases. The coronary study showed double or triple vessel atherosclerotic coronary artery disease in 57% of cases with fresh thrombi at the infarct-related coronary in 11% of cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Our analysis found that cardiac rupture mostly involved elderly subjects with underlying cardiovascular risk factors. Our findings sustain that age is a determining prognostic factor after acute coronary syndrome with the need for further education and awareness-raising efforts to speed up access to care for these patients.

Myocardial bridging phenomenon is not invariable: A case report

BACKGROUND

Myocardial bridging is a common anatomical malformation, and the milking effect is a characteristic phenomenon of myocardial bridging in coronary angiography. Generally, the phenomenon is invariable. However, this article reports an inconceivably rare myocardial bridging phenomenon that breaks through our conventional views. The milking effect changed obviously in two coronary angiography examinations, which subverted the traditional deep-rooted view of the myocardial bridging phenomenon and revealed the limitations of coronary angiography in diagnosing myocardial bridging and judging the prognosis of it.

CASE SUMMARY

A 63-year-old man was diagnosed with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and received primary percutaneous coronary intervention on December 26, 2019. His heart rate was 104 beats per minute, and blood pressure was 15.3/10.3 kPa. A severe milking effect was found in the left anterior descending coronary artery during his index coronary angiography on January 14, 2020. The patient was given intensive medical management, including a β1-adrenergic receptor blocker, during hospitalization and after discharge. Unexpectedly, coronary angiography showed that the previous impressive milking effect was dramatically alleviated (close to normal) at the follow-up on October 13, 2020. At that moment, the patient’s heart rate was 83 beats per minute, and blood pressure was 12.7/8.0 kPa.

CONCLUSION

The myocardial bridging phenomenon is not invariable and, in certain circumstances, may vary. Furthermore, the autonomic nervous system may be involved in the myocardial bridging phenomenon.