Successful management of mechanical complications following acute myocardial infarction--a case report

Postinfarction ventricular free wall rupture: strategies for diagnosis and treatment

Ventricular free wall rupture is a recognized complication of myocardial infarction. In recent years, the widespread availability of echocardiography has enabled prompt antemortem diagnosis. Consequently, an avenue for lifesaving surgical intervention has emerged for this hitherto fatal condition. We review the pathology and discuss strategies for diagnosis, resuscitation, and definitive surgical intervention. We illustrate this review using our experience with a patient whose condition was diagnosed by transthoracic echocardiography and who successfully underwent emergency operation.

Ventricular septal defects. A case study and discussion

Ventricular septal rupture is a serious complication of acute myocardial infarction (MI) that generally produces progressive circulatory failure and rapid deterioration. Prompt diagnosis followed by surgical repair with peri-operative circulatory support is often life-saving (Mazeika et al 1994). The following is an account of a patient that I cared for, whilst working on the coronary care unit (CCU) as part of an ENB 125 course. The patient was originally admitted with an inferior MI and went on to develop a ventricular septal defect (VSD).

Emergency department two-dimensional echocardiography in the diagnosis of nontraumatic cardiac rupture

Myocardial rupture is a catastrophic complication of acute myocardial infarction that usually results in sudden death. If diagnosed quickly, patients with myocardial rupture may be salvaged. This report describes the application of emergency department two-dimensional echocardiography in the diagnosis of six cases of myocardial rupture over two years. Each demonstrated a characteristic hemopericardium on limited single-window examination. These included four patients who met institutional guidelines for thrombolytic therapy. Three patients survived surgical repair, with two long-term survivors.