2-DIMENSIONAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF PERICARDIAL HEMATOMA SECONDARY TO LEFT-VENTRICULAR FREE WALL RUPTURE COMPLICATING ACUTE MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION

Rupture of the left ventricular (LV) free wall is a common complication of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and accounts for up to 10% of hospital deaths.1 Infarct expansion may precede rupture,2 whereas the rupture itself is usually associated with rapid hemodynamic deterioration from cardiac tamponade and leads to death. The potential for salvage of such patients is poor; however, under favorable circumstances (early identification and optimal hemodynamic support), some patients survive emergency surgical repair.3 Cases have been reported where echocardiography contributed to the diagnosis by demonstrating intrapericardial echo-densities and moderate effusion.4-10 This report describes our observations of the 2-dimensional echocardiographic characteristics of LV free wall rupture in 7 patients with AMI. © 1991.