Relevance of delayed hospital admission on development of cardiac rupture during acute myocardial infarction: study in 225 patients with free wall, septal or papillary muscle rupture

Mechanical complications in STEMI: prevalence and mortality trends in the primary PCI era. The Ruti-STEMI registry

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Mechanical complications confer a dreadful prognosis in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Their prevalence and prognosis are not well-defined in the current era of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) reperfusion networks. We aimed to analyze prevalence and mortality trends of post-STEMI mechanical complications over 2 decades, before and after the establishment of pPCI networks.

METHODS

Prospective, consecutive registry of STEMI patients within a region of 850 000 inhabitants over 2 decades: a pre-pPCI period (1990-2000) and a pPCI period (2007-2017). We analyzed the prevalence of mechanical complications, including ventricular septal rupture, papillary muscle rupture, and free wall rupture (FWR). Twenty eight-day and 1-year mortality trends were compared between the 2 studied decades.

RESULTS

A total of 6033 STEMI patients were included (pre-pPCI period, n=2250; pPCI period, n=3783). Reperfusion was supported by thrombolysis in the pre-pPCI period (99.1%) and by pPCI in in the pPCI period (95.7%). Mechanical complications developed in 135 patients (2.2%): ventricular septal rupture in 38 patients, papillary muscle rupture in 24, and FWR in 73 patients. FWR showed a relative reduction of 60% in the pPCI period (0.8% vs 2.0%, P<.001), without significant interperiod changes in the other mechanical complications. After multivariate adjustment, FWR remained higher in the pre-pPCI period (OR, 1.93; 95%CI, 1.10-3.41; P=.023). At 28 days and 1 year, mortality showed no significant changes in all the mechanical complications studied.

CONCLUSIONS

The establishment of regional pPCI networks has modified the landscape of mechanical complications in STEMI. FWR is less frequent in the pPCI era, likely due to reduced transmural infarcts.

Diagnosis of Postinfarction Pseudoaneurysm of the Left Ventricular Free Wall after Coronary Stenting: Case Report

The article is dedicated to topical issues of diagnosis and surgical treatment of postinfarction left ventricular (LV) myocardial rupture. Postinfarction LV rupture is one of the most life-threatening complications of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Given the low prevalence, this complication almost always leads to a fatal outcome. At the same time, a large proportion of patients (over 60%) die before the diagnosis is verified, suddenly, without specific clinical precursors. The aim. To draw the attention of doctors to the problem of diagnosis and surgical treatment of LV myocardial rupture as a complication of AMI. The article describes a clinical case of diagnosis of pseudoaneurysm of the LV free wall after coronary stenting. The peculiarity of this case was absence of a typical pain syndrome, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic signs, suggesting the presenceof such a mechanical complication of AMI. Special attention is paid to the analysis of factors enabling to assess the risk of developing this complication in patients with AMI. The given clinical case demonstrates the importance of early hospitalization and myocardial revascularization by stenting in order to prevent mechanical complications of AMI. Timely diagnosis and urgent surgical treatment of LV myocardial ruptures can reduce mortality due to mechanical complications of AMI. Conclusions. Timely hospitalization and revascularization of the myocardium in AMI patients reduce the risk of LV rupture in the affected area. The use of echocardiography makesit possible to detect severe complications of AMI with sufficient sensitivity. The only effective treatment method forLV rupture is urgent surgical intervention. Postinfarction myocardial rupture repair is a difficult task considering the initial severity of the patient’s clinical condition, the significant volume and technical complexity of the surgical intervention.

Prevalence and prognosis of isolated posterior ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction using synthesized-V7-9 lead

Limited data exist on the prevalence and prognosis of isolated posterior ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI), revealed with a posterior chest lead. Furthermore, the utility of a synthesized-V_7-9 lead in the diagnosis of STEMI is unclear; therefore, we aimed to evaluate its usefulness. We enrolled 142 consecutive patients with STEMI with the culprit lesion on the left circumflex artery (STEMI-LCx) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) between January 2009 and December 2019. We retrospectively checked the ST-segment change of both standard 12-lead and synthesized-V_7-9 lead in all patients with STEMI-LCx. Based on electrocardiogram (ECG) findings, isolated posterior STEMI that was only revealed in synthesized-V_7-9 lead was classified as "STEMI-LCx-synV_7-9" and the remaining as "STEMI-LCx-12ECG." The prevalence of STEMI-LCx-synV_7-9 in patients with STEMI-LCx was assessed. The incidence of all-cause death, cardiac death, and mechanical complications within 30 days, 3 months, and 1 year was also assessed according to each STEMI-LCx. STEMI-LCx-synV_7-9 and STEMI-LCx-12ECG occurred in 10 (7.0%) and 132 (93.0%) patients, respectively. No significant difference was found in patients' characteristics between the two groups. The patients with STEMI-LCx-synV_7-9 had significantly higher incidences of cardiac death within 3 months and 1 year (30.0% vs. 6.1%, P = 0.031, 30.0% vs. 7.6%, P = 0.050, respectively) and mechanical complications in each follow-up period (20.0% vs. 1.5%, P = 0.025) than those with STEMI-LCx-12ECG. STEMI-LCx-synV_7-9 was observed in 7.0% of the patients with STEMI-LCx. Our findings suggest that the synthesized-V_7-9 lead helps diagnose isolated posterior STEMI and might improve prognosis in patients with STEMI-LCx.

Diagnosis and Management of Late-presentation ST-elevation Myocardial Infarction and Complications

The incidence of late presentation of myocardial infarction varies between 8.5% and 40%. Late revascularization of an infarct-related artery may limit infarct size and remodeling, reduce electrical instability, and may provide supplemental blood supply to that area via collaterals. Randomized clinical trials have shown a benefit of revascularization in symptomatic and hemodynamically unstable latecomers. Image stress testing can be beneficial to guide management of asymptomatic late presenters. Higher rates of myocardial infarction complications occur with late presentations, so a high level of suspicion is required for early diagnosis. Surgical repair remains the gold standard for management of mechanical complications.

In-hospital mortality among consecutive patients with ST-Elevation myocardial infarction in modern primary percutaneous intervention era ~ Insights from 15-year data of single-center hospital-based registry ~

Objective

To clarify the association of detailed angiographic findings with in-hospital outcome after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (p-PCI) for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in Japan.

Background

Data regarding the association of detailed angiographic findings with in-hospital outcome after STEMI are limited in the p-PCI era.

Methods

Between January-2004 and December-2018, 1735 patients with STEMI (mean age, 68.5 years; female, 24.6%) who presented to the hospital in the 24-hours after symptom onset and underwent p-PCI were evaluated using the disease registries. The registry is an ongoing, retrospective, single-center hospital-based registry.

Results

The 30-day mortality rate and in-hospital mortality rate were 7.7% and 9.2%, respectively. Independent predictors of in-hospital mortality were ejection fraction (EF) < 40% [adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR), 4.446, p < 0.001], culprit lesions in the left coronary artery (LCA) (aOR, 2.940, p < 0.001) compared with those in the right coronary artery, Killip class > II (aOR, 7.438; p < 0.001), chronic kidney disease (CKD) (aOR, 4.056; p < 0.001), final thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) grades 0/1/2 (aOR, 1.809; p = 0.03), absence of robust collaterals (aOR, 17.309; p = 0.01) and hypertension (aOR, 0.449; p = 0.01).

Conclusions

Among the consecutive patients with STEMI, the in-hospital mortality rate after p-PCI significantly improved in the second half. Not only CKD, Killip class > II, and EF < 40%, but also the angiographic findings such as culprit lesions in the LCA, absence of very robust collaterals, and final TIMI grades <3 were associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality.

Association between acute myocardial infarction-to-cardiac rupture time and in-hospital mortality risk: a retrospective analysis of multicenter registry data from the Cardiovascular Research Consortium-8 Universities (CIRC-8U)

Despite the known association of cardiac rupture with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), it is still unclear whether the clinical characteristics are associated with the risk of in-hospital mortality in patients with AMI complicated by cardiac rupture. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between the time of cardiac rupture occurrence and the risk of in-hospital mortality after AMI. We conducted a retrospective analysis of multicenter registry data from eight medical universities in Eastern Japan. From 10,278 consecutive patients with AMI, we included 183 patients who had cardiac rupture after AMI, and examined the incidence of in-hospital deaths during a median follow-up of 26 days. Patients were stratified into three groups according to the AMI-to-cardiac rupture time, namely the > 24-h group (n = 111), 24-48-h group (n = 20), and < 48-h group (n = 52). Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) and the confidence interval (CI) for in-hospital mortality. Around 87 (48%) patients experienced in-hospital death and 126 (67%) underwent a cardiac surgery. Multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed a non-linear association across the three groups for mortality (HR [CI]; < 24 h: 1.0, reference; 24-48 h: 0.73 [0.27-1.86]; > 48 h: 2.25 [1.22-4.15]) after adjustments for age, sex, Killip classification, percutaneous coronary intervention, blood pressure, creatinine, peak creatine kinase myocardial band fraction, left ventricular ejection fraction, and type of rupture. Cardiac surgery was independently associated with a reduction in the HR of mortality (HR [CI]: 0.27 [0.12-0.61]) and attenuated the association between the three AMI-to-cardiac rupture time categories and mortality (statistically non-significant) in the Cox model. These data suggest that the AMI-to-cardiac rupture time contributes significantly to the risk of in-hospital mortality; however, rapid diagnosis and prompt surgical interventions are crucial for improving outcomes in patients with cardiac rupture after AMI.

Mechanical Complications of Myocardial Infarction

In this retrospective observational study, we have examined the incidence, characteristics, and treatment of serious myocardial infarction (MI) -associated mechanical complications (MCs) occurring in Japanese patients in this era of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), focusing on frailty, nutrition, and clinical implication of surgery. Included were 883 patients who, having suffered an MI, had been admitted to Nihon University Hospital between January 2013 and April 2020. Fifteen (1.70%) of these patients had suffered a potentially catastrophic MC-ventricular free wall rupture (VFWR, n = 8), ventricular septal rupture (VSR, n = 6), or papillary muscle rupture (PMR, n = 1). Factors associated with the MCs were age, poor nutritional status, a high Killip class, delayed diagnosis of MI, a high lactate concentration, a low thrombolysis in myocardial infarction flow grade, and single-vessel disease. Thirty-day mortality among MC patients was 60% (9/15): 87.5% associated with VFWR, 33.3% associated with VSR and 0% associated with PMR. On adjusted multivariate analysis, occurrence of an MC was independently associated with 30-day mortality. Despite a high surgical risk (EuroSCORE II: 11.8 ± 4.7) with less frailty, 30-day mortality was lower among patients whose MC was treated surgically than among those whose MC was treated conservatively (40.0% versus 100.0%, respectively; P = 0.044).Our data suggest that surgical intervention can save patients with a life-threatening MI-associated MC and should be considered, if they are not particularly frail.

Temporal Trends and Outcomes of Mechanical Complications in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to examine the temporal trends and outcomes of mechanical complications after myocardial infarction in the contemporary era.

BACKGROUND

Data regarding temporal trends and outcomes of mechanical complications after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) are limited in the contemporary era.

METHODS

The National Inpatient Sample database (2003 to September 2015) was queried to identify all STEMI and NSTEMI hospitalizations. Temporal trends and outcomes of mechanical complications after STEMI and NSTEMI, including papillary muscle rupture, ventricular septal defect, and free wall rupture, were described.

RESULTS

The analysis included 3,951,861 STEMI and 5,114,270 NSTEMI hospitalizations. Mechanical complications occurred in 10,726 of STEMI hospitalizations (0.27%) and 3,041 of NSTEMI hospitalizations (0.06%), with no changes in trends (p = 0.13 and p = 0.83, respectively). The rates of in-hospital mortality in patients with mechanical complications were 42.4% after STEMI and 18.0% after NSTEMI, with no significant trend changes (p = 0.62 and p = 0.12, respectively). After multivariate adjustment, patients who had mechanical complications after myocardial infarction had higher in-hospital mortality, cardiogenic shock, acute kidney injury, hemodialysis, and respiratory complications compared with those without mechanical complications. Predictors of lower mortality in patients with mechanical complications who developed cardiogenic shock included surgical repair in the STEMI and NSTEMI cohorts and percutaneous coronary intervention in the STEMI cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

Contemporary data from a large national database show that the rates of mechanical complications are low in patients presenting with STEMI and NSTEMI. Post-myocardial infarction mechanical complications continue to be associated with high mortality rates, which did not improve during the study period.

Clinical Differences of Recent Myocardial Infarction Compared With Acute Myocardial Infarction - Insights From the Tokyo CCU Network Multicenter Registry

BACKGROUND

Characteristics and treatment outcomes of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients have been studied; however, those of recent myocardial infarction (RMI) patients remain unclear. This study aimed to clarify characteristics, treatment strategy, and in-hospital outcomes of RMI patients in the Tokyo CCU network database.Methods and Results:In total, 1,853 RMI and 12,494 AMI patients from the Tokyo CCU network database during 2013-2016 were compared. Both RMI and AMI were redefined by onset times of 2-28 days and ≤24 h, respectively. The RMI group had a higher average age (70.4±12.9 vs. 68.0±13.4 years, P<0.001), more women (27.6% vs. 23.6%, P<0.001), lower proportion of patients with chest pain as the chief complaint (75.2% vs. 83.6%, P<0.001), higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus (35.9% vs. 31.0%, P<0.001), and higher mechanical complication incidence (3.0% vs. 1.5%, P<0.001) than did the AMI group. Thirty-day mortality was comparable (5.3% vs. 5.8%, P=0.360); major causes of death were cardiogenic shock and mechanical complications in the AMI and RMI groups, respectively. Death from mechanical complications (not onset time) in the AMI group plateaued almost 1 week after hospitalization, whereas it continued to increase in the RMI group.

CONCLUSIONS

Both RMI and AMI patients have distinctive clinical features, sequelae, and causes of death. Although treatment of RMI patients adhered to guidelines, it was insufficient, and death from mechanical complications continues to increase.

Outcomes and Hospital Utilization in Patients With Papillary Muscle Rupture Associated With Acute Myocardial Infarction

Papillary muscles rupture (PMR) is a rare complication of acute myocardial infarction (MI) that can lead to severe hemodynamic compromise, acute heart failure, and death. This study was designed to assess demographics, outcomes, and hospital utilization trends in the management of PMR associated with acute MI. Data were derived from the National Inpatient Sample for the years 2005 to 2014. ICD-9 codes 410.0 to 410.9 were used to identify patients with acute MI. ICD-9 code 429.6 was used to identify patients with PMR. ICD-9 procedures codes 35.23, 35.24, and 35.12 were used to identify patients who underwent mitral valve replacement (MVR) or repair. Of the 3,244,799 admissions, 932 were complicated by PMR (incidence of 0.029%). The majority of patients with PMR were ≥65 years old (60.1%) and male (60.4%). Of those with PMR, 57.5% underwent MVR. Compared to patients without PMR, those with PMR had a significantly higher in-hospital mortality rate (5.3 vs 36.3%, p <0.001), cost of hospitalization ($20,205 vs $74,383, p <0.001) and length of hospital stay (4.67 ± 02 vs 11.2 ± 0.80 days, p <0.001). Predictors of in-hospital mortality in PMR patients were age, inferior wall acute MI, and cardiac arrest. Predictors of MVR in PMR patients were age, female gender, concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting, mechanical circulatory support, longer length of stay, and admission to a large hospital. In conclusion, patients with PMR associated with acute MI have higher risk of in-hospital mortality, greater cost of hospitalization and longer length of stay than patients acute MI without PMR.

An unexpected electrocardiogram sign of subacute left ventricular free wall rupture: Its early awareness may be lifesaving

BACKGROUND

Post-infarct left ventricular free wall rupture (LVFWR) is not always an immediately catastrophic complication. The rupture can be subacute, allowing time for diagnosis and intervention. Accordingly, early recognition of the entity may be lifesaving.

METHODS

We present an electrocardiogram (ECG) change pattern in two cases, which was erroneously attributed to ischemia. Two women in their 80s were admitted to our institute after experiencing the sudden onset of chest pain. They were managed as anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction without reperfusion treatment. Unfortunately, they experienced a recurrence of severe chest pain with cardiogenic shock during hospitalisation. The ECG recorded at that time showed a ST-segment re-elevation in infract-related leads.

RESULTS

The two cases were regrettably received a misjudgement of reinfarction at first, and one of the patients even was administrated with tirofiban. Afterwards the diagnosis of subacute LVFWR was made through antemortem echocardiography.

CONCLUSION

New ST-segment elevation (STE) in infarct-associated leads, coupled with recurrence of chest pain and new-onset hypotension, may constitute the premonitory signs of a subacute LVFWR.

Clinical characteristics and protective factors in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing in-hospital myocardial free wall rupture: a single-center, retrospective analysis

Myocardial free wall rupture (MFWR) refers to laceration of the heart ventricle or atria, which is a rare but fatal complication of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). In this study, we aim to identify the clinical characteristics and protective factors of free wall rupture after myocardial infarction. This is a single-center, retrospective observational analysis. The study screened all patients admitted to the cardiology department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University between January 2013 and April 2018. The biochemical, clinical, angiographic and echocardiographic features of these patients were then collected and analyzed. Among the 5946 screened patients with AMI, 23 patients with a diagnosis of MFWR after AMI were enrolled in the present study. 18 (78.3%) patients were diagnosed with acute ST segment elevated myocardial infarction and the remaining 5 (21.7%) have acute non-ST segment elevated myocardial infarction. Early-phase MFWR happened in 12 (52.2%) and late-phase accounted for 8 (34.8%) in total. Late-phase MFWR had lower left ventricle ejection fraction value (45.8%±5.6% vs 63.0±3.8%, p<0.001) as compared with early-phase. Patients who survived from MFWR has higher ACE inhibitor/angiotensin II receptor blocker (ACEI/ARB) and β-blocker coverage in the in-hospital treatment of AMI (ACEI/ARB: 100.0% vs 35.3%, p=0.014; β-blocker: 100.0% vs 47.1%, p=0.048). The present study provides evidence for better understanding of the clinical characteristics and protective functions in MFWR after AMI. Reduced cardiac function is correlated with higher incidence of later phase free wall rupture. Higher ACEI/ARB and β-blocker coverage in the AMI treatment strategy is associated with lower MFWR incidence.

Mechanical complications in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: A single centre experience

Background

The study aims to assess characteristics and outcomes of patients suffering a mechanical complication (MC) after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in a contemporary cohort of patients in the percutaneous coronary intervention era.

Methods and results

This retrospective single-center cohort study encompasses 2508 patients admitted with STEMI between March 9, 2009 and June 30, 2014. A total of 26 patients (1.1%) suffered a mechanical complication: ventricular septal rupture (VSR) in 17, ventricular free wall rupture (VFWR) in 2, a combination of VSD and VFWR in 2, and papillary muscle rupture (PMR) in 5 patients. Older age (74.5 ± 10.4 years versus 63.9 ± 13.1 years, p < 0.001), female sex (42.3% versus 23.3%, p = 0.034), and a longer latency period between symptom onset and angiography (> 24h: 42.3% versus 16.2%, p = 0.002) were more frequent among patients with MC as compared to patients without MC. The majority of MC patients had multivessel disease (77%) and presented in cardiogenic shock (Killip class IV: 73.1%). Nine patients (7 VSR, 2 VFWR & VSR) were treated conservatively and died. Out of the remaining 10 VSR patients, four underwent surgery, three underwent implantation of an occluder device, and another three patients had surgical repair following occluder device implantation. All patients with isolated VFWR and PMR underwent emergency surgery. At 30 days, mortality for VSR, VFWR, VFWR & VSR and PMR amounted to 71%, 50%, 100% and 0%, respectively.

Conclusions

Despite advances in the management of STEMI patients, mortality of mechanical complications stays considerable in this contemporary cohort. Older age, female sex, and a prolonged latency period between symptom onset and angiography are associated with the occurrence of these complications.

Left ventricular free-wall rupture that occurred during a cardiopulmonary exercise test

Although exercise testing has become a standard procedure before discharge for patients with acute coronary syndrome, a fatal accident during the test is extremely rare. A 60-year-old man was admitted for a non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. A coronary angiogram showed stenosis at the distal lesion of the circumflex, and a balloon angioplasty was performed. His recovery was smooth, and a cardiopulmonary exercise test was performed 5 days after admission. At 2.5 metabolic equivalents, he suddenly went into cardiac arrest, and percutaneous cardiopulmonary support was initiated. Echocardiography revealed the presence of a large amount of pericardial effusion, and emergency cardiac surgery was performed to repair the free-wall rupture. This highlights the importance of careful monitoring of patients with percutaneous coronary intervention during cardiopulmonary exercise testing.

Ventricular free wall Rupture after Myocardial Infarction

Patients with their first myocardial infarction (MI), who present to the emergency department many hours after the onset of chest pain, who appear to be improving but suddenly develop new chest pain and unexpected hypotension (with or without signs of cardiac tamponade), should be suspected of having ventricular free wall rupture (VFWR). The mainstay of treatment is surgery. These patients may be managed with the administration of fluids, cautious use of inotropes and echocardiographic scanning, which should be performed on an emergent basis, while being prepared to be moved to the emergency surgical suite. However, at no cost should surgery be delayed. This paper reviews the current literature of VFWR after MI, a condition which remains difficult to diagnose, in many aspects, to this day. The review examines the historical background, incidence, postulated risk factors, clinical presentation, investigations and management.

Comparison of distinctive clinical and cardiac magnetic resonance features between ST elevation myocardial infarction patients with incomplete myocardial rupture and those with moderate to severe pericardial effusion

BACKGROUND

Whether patients with incomplete myocardial rupture (IMR) present distinctive clinical and cardiac magnetic resonance features from those with moderate-severe pericardial effusion (⩾10 mm (PE)) remains unknown.

METHODS

We compared the clinical, angiographic and cardiac magnetic resonance characteristics of nine patients with IMR (diagnosed angiographically and/or by cardiac magnetic resonance) with 29 with PE, and also with 38 without IMR or PE with evidence of transmural necrosis (reference group) matched for age, gender and year of admission.

RESULTS

Patients with IMR were younger than those with PE (p<0.001) but the two groups shared a higher rate of admission delay (78% and 41%) than those without IMR/PE (5%, p<0.001) and lower frequency of reperfusion therapy (44%, 55% and 100%, respectively, p<0.001). Thirteen patients with PE (45%) but only one IMR (11%) presented recurrent chest pain. IMR patients tended to present smaller infarct size at cardiac magnetic resonance (p=0.153 and 0.036) and number of segments with ⩾75% necrosis than PE patients and those without IMR/PE (p=0.098 and 0.029, respectively). Ten PE patients presented cardiac tamponade (35%). A control 2D-echocardiogram performed within two years in 71 patients (93%) documented a pseudoaneurysm in one PE and in one IMR patient.

CONCLUSIONS

IMR is generally silent and occurs in younger patients with smaller infarct size than those with PE although both present late and are often untreated with reperfusion therapy. These findings may warrant imaging assessment in ST elevation myocardial infarction patients with delayed admission, particularly in absence of reperfusion, to rule out an IMR.

An unusual presentation of ischaemic mitral regurgitation as P2 prolapse

A 54-year-old gentleman presented with pulmonary oedema secondary to anterolateral papillary muscle (PPM) rupture and acute mitral regurgitation subsequent to myocardial ischaemia (MI). Angiography revealed complete occlusion of the first obtuse marginal (OM1) branch of the circumflex coronary artery and a 70% occlusion of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. Operatively, unusual anatomy was noted; an accessory head was attached superiorly to the anterior lateral PPM. This gave rise to chordae that were subsequently attached to the posterior second (P2) scallop. Additionally, the P2 scallop was deficient in chordae from the posteromedial PPM, thus, loss of this accessory head led to severe mitral regurgitation. We review the PPM anatomy and pathological context of PPM rupture and ischaemic mitral regurgitation.

Sudden death due to ventricular double rupture as a complication of inferior acute myocardial infarction: A case report

RATIONALE

Ventricular double rupture (VDR) is a rare but lethal mechanical complication of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The early identification and timely treatment of VDR remain challenging problems. We present a case of AMI with VDR and briefly review the characteristics and prognosis of this life-threatening disease.

PATIENT CONCERNS AND DIAGNOSES

A 77-year-old male presented to our hospital with a 4-day history of severe dizziness, mild chest tightness, and dyspnea. An inferior AMI was diagnosed.

INTERVENTIONS AND OUTCOMES

On the second hospital day, hypotension and a new cardiac murmur was found. The emergency echocardiographic study disclosed a ventricular septal defect. Soon after that the patient suddenly died of ventricular free-wall rupture.

LESSONS

In patients with AMI complicated by a septal perforation in the apical region, close to the septum-free wall junction, special attention should be paid to the great risk of VDR. Other high risk factors included advanced age, delayed reperfusion, and inferior infarction. Sufficient evaluation of the risk factors, close monitoring of vital signs, early identification of the specific symptoms, and timely treatment are the key points for the effective prediction and prevention of VDR.

Lateral left ventricular wall rupture following acute myocardial infarction: pathophysiological interpretation by multimodality imaging approach

Lateral left ventricular wall rupture (LVWR) is a rare complication following acute myocardial infarction (AMI) less than 1%. After cardiogenic shock, LVWR constitutes the most common cause of in-hospital death in AMI patients. Around 40% of all LVWR occurred during the first 24 hours and 85% within the first week. In the present case, 76 hours following the intervention, LVWR was observed likely due to a small infarction at the lateral left ventricular wall possibly due to the marginal lesion. Our patient refused surgery and was followed clinically. Eighteen months later, real time three-dimensional echocardiography showed a pseudoaneurysm.

Predictors of moderate-to-severe pericardial effusion, cardiac tamponade, and electromechanical dissociation in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction

Occurrence of moderate-to-severe pericardial effusion (PE; ≥10 mm), cardiac tamponade (CT), and sudden electromechanical dissociation (EMD) was investigated in 4,361 patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction from 1993 to 2011 in 3 different periods: 1993 to 2000 (n: 1,488); 2001 to 2008 (n: 1,844); and 2009 to 2011 (n: 1,014). Their predictors, including the use of no reperfusion therapy (n: 1,186), thrombolysis (n: 1,607), or primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI, n: 1,562), were also evaluated. Incidence of PE (8.7%, 6.8%, and 5.0%), CT (5.0%, 2.9%, and 1.9%), and EMD (3.7%, 1.7%, and 1.0%), declined over the 3 periods as did mortality (12.0% 8.2%, and 5.9%) with different rates of thrombolytic therapy (52%, 37%, and 14%) and PPCI (7%, 38%, and 76%; all p<0.001). In patients treated without reperfusion therapy, thrombolysis, and PPCI, incidence of PE (12.0%, 5.7%, and 4.3%), CT (6.0%, 3.0%, and 2.2%), and EMD (4.1%, 2.2%, and 0.8%) was different as was mortality (14.4%, 8.3%, and 5.9%; all p<0.001). Independent predictors of PE were lateral infarction (odds ratio [OR] 4.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.57 to 6.49), increasing age (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.07), number of electrocardiographic leads involved (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.23 to 1.45), and admission delay (OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.02). Increasing ejection fraction (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.96 to 0.98), thrombolysis (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.37 to 0.75), and PPCI (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.25 to 0.50), however, were protectors (all p<0.001). Lateral infarction, age, number of leads involved, ejection fraction, thrombolytic therapy, and PPCI were also predictors/protectors of CT and EMD. In conclusion, PE, CT, and EMD rates in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction have objectively fallen in the last 2 decades, and their predictors are lateral site, increasing age, number of leads involved, and lack of reperfusion therapy. Late hospital admission is also a relevant predictor of PE.

Left ventricular rupture in an anterior wall acute myocardial infarction with severe intra-ventricular gradient

We report the case of a 72-year-old man with ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction and severe intra-ventricular gradient (>40 mmHg), who died with left ventricular rupture (LVR). We postulate that severe intra-ventricular gradient detectable at admission may be related to subsequent LVR and proposed as a risk factor for LVR.

Impact of prehospital delay in treatment seeking on in-hospital complications after acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

Rapid arrival to the hospital for treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) improves long-term outcomes. Whether prehospital delay time is associated with short-term, in-hospital complications remains unknown.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the fit of a theoretical model where prehospital delay time was indirectly associated with hospital length of stay through in-hospital complications after AMI considering simultaneously for demographic, clinical, and psychosocial factors using structural equation modeling.

METHODS

Acute myocardial infarction patients (N = 536; 66% men; mean age, 62 [SD, 14] years) were enrolled in this prospective study. Demographic and clinical data were obtained by patient interview and medical record review. After patient discharge, complications were abstracted from the medical record.

RESULTS

Prehospital delay, admission Killip class, and in-hospital anxiety were the best predictors of in-hospital complications, including recurrent ischemia, reinfarction, sustained ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, and cardiac death, after AMI (P = .019). The occurrence of in-hospital complications was related to length of stay in the hospital (P < .001).

CONCLUSION

Prehospital delay in promptly seeking hospital treatment for AMI symptoms, together with state anxiety and worse heart failure, was associated with the occurrence of more frequent serious complications during the hospital stay. It is essential that research and clinical efforts focus on the complex and dynamic issue of improving prehospital delay in AMI patients.

The impact of hypertension on patients with acute coronary syndromes

Arterial chronic hypertension (HTN) is a well-known cardiovascular risk factor for development of atherosclerosis. In order to explain the relation between HTN and acute coronary syndromes the following factors should be considered: (1) risk factors are shared by the diseases, such as genetic risk, insulin resistance, sympathetic hyperactivity, and vasoactive substances (i.e., angiotensin II); (2) hypertension is associated with the development of atherosclerosis (which in turn contributes to progression of myocardial infarction). From all the registries and the data available up to now, hypertensive patients with ACS are more likely to be older, female, of nonwhite ethnicity, and having a higher prevalence of comorbidities. Data on the prognostic role of a preexisting hypertensive state in ACS patients are so far contrasting. The aim of the present paper is to focus on hypertensive patients with ACS, in order to better elucidate whether these patients are at higher risk and deserve a tailored approach for management and followup.

Acute left ventricular rupture following posterior wall myocardial infarction

Free wall rupture, the most fearful complication of myocardial infarction, mostly attacks anterior walls. Acute rupture is characterized by rapid development of mechanical arrest accompanied with bradyarrhythmia or electromechanical dissociation. The majority of patients succumb to death as the result of cardiac tamponade. Risk factors are advanced age, female gender, the first-time myocardial infarction, hypertension, and ST-segment elevation. We report a rare case of posterior wall myocardial infarction complicated with left ventricular rupture initially presenting with junctional escape rhythm.

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.

Left ventricular free wall rupture subsequent to early myocardial reinfarction after successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angiography

Left ventricular free wall rupture is a rare complication of acute myocardial infarction. Scarcely has a cardiac rupture subsequent to early reinfarction been reported. A left ventricular free wall rupture subsequent to reinfarction after successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angiography in a 78-year-old female is herein described.

Changes in hospital mortality rates in 425 patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction and cardiac rupture over a 30-year period

BACKGROUND

Possible changes in the incidence and outcome of cardiac rupture in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction over a long period of time have not been investigated.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The incidence of cardiac rupture in ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients and its mortality rate were investigated during a 30-year period divided into 5 intervals (1977 to 1982, 1983 to 1988, 1989 to 1994, 1995 to 2000, and 2001 to 2006). Of a total of 6678 consecutive patients, 425 experienced a free wall rupture (280 with cardiac tamponade: 227 with electromechanical dissociation and 53 with hypotension) or a septal rupture (145). After the exclusion of referrals from other centers (n=44), the incidence of definite cardiac rupture (septal rupture, anatomic evidence of free wall rupture, or electromechanical dissociation) declined progressively (6.2% in 1977 to 1982 to 3.2% in 2001 to 2006; P<0.001) in parallel with a progressive use of reperfusion therapy (0% to 75.1%; P<0.001). In addition, among patients with cardiac rupture, there was a progressive fall in the rate of death (94% to 75%; P<0.001) despite a trend toward increasing age (66+/-8 to 75+/-8 years; P<0.054) in conjunction with better control of systolic blood pressure at 24 hours (130+/-24 versus 110+/-18 mm Hg; P<0.001); an increased use of reperfusion therapy (0% to 59%; P<0.001), beta-blockers (0% to 45%; P<0.001), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (0% to 38%; P<0.001), and aspirin (0% to 96%; P<0.001); and a lower use of heparin (99% to 67%; P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The decline in the incidence in cardiac rupture and its rate of death over the last 30 years appears to be associated with the increasing use of reperfusion strategies and adjunct medical therapy.

Imaging studies in patients with heart failure: current and evolving technologies

Technological advances continue to expand the clinical role of echocardiography in the intensive care unit, particularly in patients with heart failure. It has many advantages over tomographic techniques such as echo cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and cardiac computed tomography, can provide rapid bedside cardiac assessment, and facilitate emergent decision-making for critically ill patients. Image quality problems in the intensive care setting have largely been overcome by the use of harmonic imaging, contrast opacification, and when indicated, transesophageal echocardiography. Newer techniques promise to advance the scope and prognostic power of echocardiography, and to expand the portability and availability of this tool.

Successful management of left ventricular free wall rupture

Cardiac rupture is a complication of myocardial infarction with an exceedingly high mortality rate. Imaging modalities, such as echocardiography, have facilitated premortem diagnosis, thus increasing chances of survival. A review of pertinent literature is accompanied by a case report that details an episode of left ventricular free wall rupture and its successful outcome.

[Mechanical complications of acute myocardial infarction]

Rupture of the left ventricular myocardium during the course of an acute myocardial infarction may affect the free wall, the interventricular septum, or the papillary muscles. When a rupture occurs, it is referred to as a mechanical complication of acute myocardial infarction. All mechanical complications may lead to cardiogenic shock. However, the location of the rupture can often be suspected clinically. To confirm the diagnosis, echocardiography must be performed. Since the advent of thrombolytic therapy and percutaneous coronary intervention, the incidence of mechanical complications has declined. Even though mortality remains high, their recognition is important since survivors may have an excellent long-term prognosis. The cases convey two main messages: 1) Mechanical complications must be carefully searched for in any patient with an acute coronary syndrome and signs of cardiogenic shock and/or a systolic murmur. 2) Aggressive and timely medical and surgical treatment should be provided even though in a substantial proportion of these patients prognosis may be dismal.

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.

Acute myocardial infarction: disposition to the operating room?

Given their low incidence, mechanical complications of AMI represent a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for the EP. When the panoply of medical interventions has reached its limitation, surgical treatment plays a role in the management of the patient who has AMI. For patients who have CS and severe compromise of myocardial reserve, surgical intervention might represent the only means of restoring blood flow to the myocardium. For patients who have mechanical complications, correction of the defect before the onset of terminal organ failure might provide long-term survival.

Review of ventricular rupture: key concepts and diagnostic tools for success

Although a rare complication of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), ventricular rupture is a serious event associated with significant mortality and morbidity. Patients normally present with hemodynamic instability, often in cardiogenic shock. Despite improvements in surgical techniques and diagnostic tools, post-myocardial infarction ventricular rupture remains a difficult therapeutic challenge. There are three categories of ventricular rupture: free wall rupture (FWR), ventricular septal rupture (VSR), and papillary muscle rupture (PWR). The incidence of FWR occurs following up to 10% of myocardial infarctions. VSR and PWR have a lower incidence of 1-2% and 0.5-5%, respectively. Patients often present with single-vessel coronary artery disease and usually do not have a positive history for a previous myocardial infarction. The incidence of post infarction angina in these patients is significantly greater than in patients without ventricular rupture. Delay in treatment and continued physical activity post infarction increases the risk of ventricular rupture. Diagnostic tools such as two-dimensional echocardiography and cardiac catheterization confirm the diagnosis of ventricular rupture in only 45-88% of cases. Knowledge of the disease progression is necessary to insure accurate and timely diagnosis. Due to the rapid deterioration of these patients, there is a 50-80% mortality rate within the first week if untreated. With surgical correction, patients can extend their 5-year survival rates to 65%. A good example of the complex course of ventricular rupture is the case of a 71-year-old patient at our institution. The patient presented in cardiogenic shock following an AMI. Preoperative diagnosis was unsuccessful in determining the extent of the ventricular rupture. The correct diagnosis was determined in the operating room, and both a mitral valve replacement and closure of a ventricular septal defect were completed. The patient was successfully treated with this difficult pathology.

[Survival after recurrent left ventricular free wall rupture, with an atypical occurrence after post-infarction exercise test]

Left ventricular free wall rupture is an unusual but highly lethal complication of acute myocardial infarction. We report on the extremely rare occurrence of a patient surviving two episodes of free wall rupture within a seven-month period. The first event happened in the course of an exercise testing after a seemingly uncomplicated inferior acute myocardial infarction; the second, seven months after the first, as a pseudoaneurysm in the setting of a new inferior wall infarction. Surgical repair was successful in both instances, with patient remaining asymptomatic in follow-up.