Subacute left ventricular free-wall rupture in early course of acute myocardial infarction. Clinical report of two cases and review of the literature

Left ventricular free wall rupture (LVFWR) may complicate an acute myocardial infarction (AMI); its frequency ranges from 1 to 6 percent. In the era of coronary care units, LVFWR is the second cause of in-hospital death, after pump failure. The subacute presentation accounts for 2-3 percent of total hospital admissions for AMI. Heart rupture may not be suddenly fatal and sometimes there is enough time for surgical repair. Electromechanical dissociation is neither the only nor the main clinical presentation. More subtle symptoms occurring hours or days before the final event include unexplained hypotension and transient bradycardia and some ECG features such as persistent ST-segment elevation with T-waves failing to invert in the same leads. On echocardiographic subcostal view, pericardial effusion of more than 5-10 mm, with echo-dense masses overlying the heart independently of cardiac tamponade, is highly suggestive of heart rupture. If pericardiocentesis yields hemorrhagic fluid, surgical intervention is mandatory, providing both diagnostic confirmation and definitive treatment. Medical management strategies (prolonged bed rest, beta-blockade therapy) are still experimental but could become suitable for particular subsets of patients (elderly patients and patients at a high surgical risk). We report two cases of subacute LVFWR and review the currently available literature.     

Cardiac rupture in patients with acute myocardial infarction

The occurrence of myocardial rupture was evaluated in an unselected population of 1,737 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Patients with cardiac rupture after AMI were compared with age- and sex-matched control patients with fatal AMI not related to rupture and with AMI survivors discharged home. Rupture was found in 40 patients (15.7 percent of hospital deaths), or 2.3 percent of all cases of AMI. At the highest risk for rupture were women aged 60 to 69, although the age distribution did not differ significantly from that of patients dying of other causes. More patients with myocardial rupture had hypertension during hospitalization, persistent pain, and inferior wall myocardial infarction when compared with controls. The majority (95 percent) of cardiac ruptures occurred within the first six days, 40 percent within the first 24 hours after the onset of symptoms. Approximately 20 percent of ruptures were diagnosed as subacute; in only two was surgical intervention attempted unsuccessfully. The high-risk group of patients should be carefully monitored within the first six days after the onset of symptoms of AMI in an effort to prevent myocardial rupture.     

Significant predictors of poor prognosis in women aged </=65 years hospitalized for an acute coronary event

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the importance of different clinical parameters predicting long-term cardiac prognosis in younger women with an acute coronary event. DESIGN: The Stockholm Female Coronary Risk Study is a follow-up study in women 2.0 mmol L-1 (HR 2.46, 95% CI 1.06-5.54). AMI as index event and diabetes mellitus were the most significant predictors in a multivariate statistical model. Diabetes mellitus was the strongest predictor when the analysis was repeated in the total patient cohort, integrating patients that did not participate in the extended investigations. CONCLUSION: Women aged 相似文献   

Frequency of rupture of the left ventricular free wall or ventricular septum among necropsy cases of fatal acute myocardial infarction since introduction of coronary care units

Review of 18 published reports before the widespread use of cardiac care units disclosed that the frequency of rupture of the left ventricular free wall or ventricular septum among necropsy cases of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) ranged from 4 to 24% (mean 8%) (619 of 7,905 cases). The frequency of rupture of the left ventricular free wall or ventricular septum among necropsy patients with fatal AMI studied in this laboratory since 1968 was analyzed. Of 648 such patients, 204 (31%) had rupture of the left ventricular free wall or ventricular septum. Rupture occurred in 171 (40%) of 431 patients without healed myocardial infarcts (grossly visible left ventricular scars), and in 29 (13%) of 217 patients with a healed myocardial infarct (p less than 0.01). Thus, the frequency of rupture of the left ventricular free wall or ventricular septum during AMI appears to have increased substantially since the widespread use of coronary care units. Also, the frequency of rupture is nearly 3 times greater in those in whom rupture occurred during the first AMI compared to those with a previous infarct that healed.     

Cardiac care unit admission criteria for suspected acute myocardial infarction in new-onset atrial fibrillation

Management of new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) varies between institutions and individual physicians. Because AF often occurs in elderly patients and is associated with coronary artery disease, patients presenting for the first time are often selected for admission to the coronary care unit to exclude the possibility of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). A review of 245 patients with AF admitted to an intensive care unit revealed 45 cases that were of new onset. AMI was diagnosed in 5 (11%) on the basis of elevated serum creatine kinase-MB levels. Evaluation of 56 clinical variables available during initial assessment indicated that infarction patients could be distinguished from others by the presence of left ventricular hypertrophy (p less than 0.01), electrocardiographic evidence of old myocardial infarction (p less than 0.01), typical cardiac chest pain (p less than 0.01), and duration of cardiac symptoms less than 4 hours (p less than 0.05). The presence of 2 or more of these features identified all AMI patients and 7 others at high risk for serious cardiac complications. The findings indicate that new-onset AF in the absence of clinical predictors suggesting myocardial ischemia or AMI does not warrant routine admission to the coronary care unit.     

Late left ventricular pseudoaneurysm formation following subacute myocardial infarction

We describe a patient with a subacute inferior myocardial infarction who developed a pseudo-aneurysm more than 18 days after the acute event. This is an unusual case with three different complications of a myocardial infarction: Firstly, ventricular rupture is usually the result following transmural myocardial infarction without reperfusion. However, coronary angiography confirmed reperfusion after late thrombolysis in this patient. The subacute rupture could potentially be caused or aggravated by the late thrombolysis. Secondly, this patient developed a mural apical thrombus in a non-infarcted region. It seems most likely that the new infarct caused a low flow state which enhanced thrombus formation. Against expectations, this developed at the apex rather than the site of the recent inferior wall myocardial infarction. Thirdly, we documented the development of a pseudo-aneurysm more than 18 days after the myocardial infarction. This complication is rarely seen at this stage after a myocardial infarction, as most pseudo-aneurysms are formed within 7 days after a myocardial infarction. We have beautifully visualised the apical thrombus and pseudo-aneurysm with echocardiography. This report shows that serial echocardiography is a very useful tool in evaluating the patient's clinical and cardiac status in the period after a myocardial infarction.     

急性心肌梗死并发室间隔穿孔的临床特点分析

目的分析急性心肌梗死并发室间隔穿孔的临床特点,判断患者预后。方法我院1994年6月～2006年7月共收治2027例急性心肌梗死患者,其中17例患者出现室间隔穿孔,并对其临床和超声心动图资料进行回顾性分析。结果我院急性心肌梗死并发室间隔穿孔的发病率为0.84%。17例室间隔穿孔患者中,9例合并高血压;12例前壁心肌梗死。11例冠状动脉造影检查均为2支以上血管病变;10例患者的梗死相关血管闭塞。超声心动图检查左心室平均直径(54.1±6.2)mm,左心室射血分数(40.4±10.8)%;10例室壁瘤形成,穿孔位置多在室间隔近心段的1/3处,穿孔直径(9.5±3.9)mm。内科保守治疗疗效较差,病死率82.35%。结论急性心肌梗死并发室间隔穿孔多发生在老年前壁心肌梗死患者,内科保守治疗病死率高。     

Current causes of mortality in acute myocardial infarction]

The mortality rate of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has decreased from 50% in 1926 to 9% nowadays. The reason for this change has been the development of coronary care units, the use of new inotropic agents, antiarrythmic drugs, pacemakers, as well as the better knowledge of the right ventricular infarction and heart failure. We studied 100 fatal AMI (group II) out of 1187 patients admitted to the Instituto Nacional de Cardiologia "Ignacio Chávez" CCU up to august 1987 and compared them with 500 survivors of acute coronary occlusion in the same period., (group I) - In both groups there were more men between 50 and 70 years. Females older than 60, had a higher mortality rate. Twenty patients died with clinical evidence of tamponade, five of them had left ventricular rupture at autopsy. The fatal AMI group had higher rates of past history of myocardial infarction, also higher rates of persistent angina, myocardial re-infarction, 3er degree AV block and RBBB. The more frequent causes of death were grade III-IV heart failure and left ventricular wall rupture.     

急性心肌梗死伴与不伴心脏破裂临床病理分析

目的探讨急性心肌梗死(AMI)心脏破裂的原因、好发部位及与冠状动脉狭窄的关系。方法AMI死亡并行尸体解剖检查63例,其中AMI伴心脏破裂18例,不伴心脏破裂45例。结果AMI伴心脏破裂组高血压、溶栓治疗及首次心肌梗死发生率明显升高(P<0．05),而性别、梗死后心绞痛、心源性休克、心肌酶谱峰值、梗死面积与心脏破裂无明显关系(P>0．05)。心脏破裂多发生在AMI后3d内,第1天占33．3％,多见于前壁、心尖部及下壁。尸体解剖示破裂处心肌变薄伴出血,梗死相关血管多为高度狭窄。结论高血压、溶栓治疗及首次心肌梗死均为心脏破裂的危险因素。AMI的超急性期是心脏破裂的高发期。前降支及右冠状动脉高度狭窄导致心脏破裂增加。     

Alcohol drinking triggers acute myocardial infarction in a case of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy

Alcohol ingestion-related increased left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) pressure gradient in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) has been reported in the literature; however, acute myocardial infarction (AMI) after alcohol drinking in this patient group is rarely reported. Herein, we report a 68-year-old man with chronic alcoholism suffering from AMI after alcohol drinking. Electrocardiography revealed complete left bundle branch block, and chest X-ray showed acute pulmonary edema. Intubation was done for respiratory failure and intra-aortic balloon pump was also inserted for unstable hemodynamics. However, emergent coronary angiography revealed normal coronary arteries. HOCM was diagnosed by a high pressure gradient over LVOT and systolic anterior motion of mitral valve by echocardiography. This patient became stable under intensive care and medical treatment. This case reminds physicians that alcohol ingestion might cause AMI in HOCM patients because of increased LVOT pressure gradient and decreased coronary perfusion despite normal coronary arteries.     

Myocardial rupture after acute myocardial infarction. Ten year review.

Forty-nine patients with myocardial rupture complicating acute myocardial infarction were managed in our coronary care unit from 1972 to 1981: 33 patients with post-infarction ventricular septal defect, 12 patients with isolated rupture of the free wall of the left ventricle, and four patients with papillary muscle rupture. Nine of 19 patients (47%) who underwent surgical repair of a post-infarction ventricular septal defect survived. The major determinant of survival was the preoperative haemodynamic status. Ten of 13 patients (77%) who developed cardiogenic shock preoperatively died, while none of the six patients who were not in cardiogenic shock died. Survival was not related to the site or size of infarction, extent of coronary artery disease, or magnitude of the left to right shunt. There were no survivors among the 14 patients with post-infarction ventricular septal defect managed without surgical intervention. Seven of the 12 patients with isolated rupture of the free wall of the left ventricle developed mechanical cardiac arrest and died at the onset of rupture, but five patients developed subacute heart rupture and two of these patients survived after urgent surgical repair. Two of the four patients with papillary muscle rupture underwent mitral valve replacement, but both died in the early postoperative period; both patients who were not operated on died. Early detection and early surgical intervention are essential in the management of myocardial rupture complicating acute myocardial infarction.     

Safety and implementation of exercise testing and training after coronary stenting in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of subacute stent thrombosis related to exercise testing (ETT) or exercise training in cardiac rehabilitation (exercise cardiac rehabilitation (ECR)) and to clarify the appropriate timing of ETT and ECR in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) treated with coronary stenting, because the safety and appropriate timing of ETT and ECR after coronary stenting for AMI have not been established. Forty-six institutes performing emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for AMI were surveyed for the incidence of exercise-related subacute stent thrombosis and the timing of the start of ETT and ECR in patients with AMI in 1996-1998. Among the total 13,685 patients with AMI, 4,360 (31.9%) underwent coronary stenting. Of the 132 (3.0%) subacute stent thromboses that developed within 1 month after stenting, only one event was related to maximal ETT and occurred in a patient not receiving ticlopidine. No stent thrombosis occurred in association with submaximal ETT or ECR. In 7 institutes, maximal ETT was routinely performed at 14 days after stenting for AMI without any adverse events, and in 6 institutes, ECR was routinely started within 7 days without any adverse events. This survey found that only 21.0% of all AMI patients participated in ECR. In conclusion, subacute stent thrombosis related to ETT or ECR is extremely rare (0-0.02%) in patients with AMI, especially when they are receiving ticlopidine, and therefore ETT and ECR for stented patients with AMI need not be delayed (ie, approximately 7 days after stenting for submaximal ETT and ECR, and 14 days after stenting for maximal ETT). The rate of participation of post-AMI patients in ECR is low in Japan, even in major hospitals that are actively working in the field.     

The coronary care unit turns 25: historical trends and future directions

In the 25 years since the introduction of coronary care units the management of acute myocardial infarction has become oriented toward reducing infarct size and treating ongoing ischemia. The coronary care unit has been widely accepted as the standard of care for patients with acute myocardial infarction and has been considered appropriate for monitoring patients with acute chest pain until acute myocardial infarction is diagnosed or excluded. However, rising health care costs have created pressures to increase the efficiency of coronary care units. Possible strategies seek to decrease resource use by identifying low-risk patients for initial triage or early transfer to lower levels of care. The application of management algorithms and the development of intermediate care units as alternative triage sites for low-risk patients may be important future trends as a distinction is made between intensive coronary care and careful coronary observation.     

Comparison of frequency of left ventricular thrombi in patients with anterior wall versus non-anterior wall acute myocardial infarction treated with antithrombotic and antiplatelet therapy with or without coronary revascularization

Of 200 patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (AMI), all received antiplatelet and antithrombotic therapy, and 186 patients (93%) underwent coronary revascularization. Left ventricular thrombi were diagnosed by 2-dimensional echocardiography ≤1 week after AMI in 19 of 114 patients (17%) with anterior wall AMI and in 3 of 86 patients (3%) with non–anterior wall AMI (p <0.001).     

Effect of Different Styles of Coronary Heart Disease and Its Risk Factors on Cardiac Remodeling and Dysfunction

Objectives To evaluate the effect of different styles of coronary heart disease (CHD), different regions of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), its risk factors and branches of coronary stenosis on left ventricular remodeling and dysfunction by applying echocardiography. Methods 251 patients with CHD and 96 patients without CHD (NoCHD) were verified by selective coronary angiography. CHD patients were divided into stable angina pectoris(SAP) 26, unstable angina pectoris(UAP) 53, acute myocardial infarction (AMI) 140 and old myocardial infarction (OMI) 30 based on clinical situation, cTnT, cardiac enzyme and EGG. AMI patients were further divided into subgroups including acute anterior myocardial infarct (Aa,n = 53), acute inferior myocardial infarction (Ai, n,=54) and Aa Ai(n=33) based on ECG. Cardiac parameters: end-diastolic interventricular septum thickness (IVSd) , end-diastolic left ventricular internal diameter (LVd ), left ventricular mass(LM) , end-diastolic left ventricular volume ( EDV) , end-systolic left ventricular volume (ESV) and left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) were measured by ACUSON 128XP/10 echocardiography. Multiples linear regression analyses were performed to test statistical associations between LVEF and the involved branches of coronary stenosis, blood pressure, lipids, glucose and etc after onset of myocardial infarction. Results EDV and ESV were increased and LVEF decreased on patients with AMI, OMI and UAP (P<0.05-0.0001). LM was mainly increased in patients with OMI (P<0.01) and LVd was mainly enlarged in patients with AMI. EF was significantly decreased and EDV, ESV, LM and LVd were remarkably increased in AMI patients with Aa and Aa Ai. With the multiple linear regression analyses by SPSS software, we found that LVEF was negatively correlated to the involved branches of coronary stenosis as well as to systolic blood pressure after onset of myocardial infarction while there was no significant correlation between LVEF and other factors. LVEF was significantly decreased, and LVd and LM increased in AMI patients with antecedent hypertension, compared to patients without hypertension (P<0.001). Conclusions Effects of different styles of CHD and different regions of AMI on left ventricular remodeling and cardiac function are different. Myocardial infarction, especially Aa and Aa Ai, is one of the most important causes of left ventricular remodeling and cardiac dysfunction. Multiple vessel stenosis and systolic blood pressure at the onset of myocardial infarction reduce LVEF in AMI patients. Antecedent hypertension may accelerate the effect of AMI on cardiac remodeling and dysfunction. Therefore primary and secondary preventions of CHD are critical for protecting heart from remodeling and dysfunction.     

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.     

Long-term survival of subacute cardiac rupture with tamponade in acute myocardial infarction, without surgical intervention (the role of pericardiocentesis)

Four patients are described with cardiac tamponade caused by subacute cardiac rupture in acute myocardial infarction with long-term survival of two of them. Three patients were treated by pericardiocentesis. Clinical signs and symptoms and diagnostic problems are discussed stressing the need for a well-trained team of workers of the Coronary Care Units aware of the possibility of this event and ready to cope with its therapeutical demands--both surgical and conservative--by pericardiocentesis which is a small number of patients can be life-saving.     

Prognostic value of non-obstructive CT low-dense coronary artery plaques detected by multislice computed tomography.

BACKGROUND: The prognostic value of non-obstructive, CT low-dense plaques (CTLDP) on multislice computed tomography (MSCT) for the prediction of nonfatal acute myocardial infarction (AMI), unstable angina (UA) and cardiac death has not yet been defined. METHODS AND RESULTS: In the present study 810 patients who underwent MSCT and had non-obstructive coronary artery disease were followed up for the occurrence of AMI, UA and cardiac death. Non-obstructive CTLDP were defined as plaques with a CT density <68 Hounsfield units, accompanied by mild to moderate coronary artery stenosis (25-75%). Patients were followed-up for 1,062+/-544 days for the occurrence of (1) acute coronary syndrome (ACS) including nonfatal AMI and UA, and (2) cardiac death. CTLDP were detected in 189 patients (23.3%). The annual event rate of AMI, UA, ACS and cardiac death was 0.91%, 0.91%, 1.82% and 0.36%, respectively, in patients with CTLDP and 0.10%, 0.55%, 0.66% and 0.21%, respectively, in patients without CTLDP. The event rate of ACS was significantly higher in patients with CTLDP than in those without CTLDP (p<0.001). Multivariate Cox proportional regression analysis revealed that previous MI and the presence of CTLDP were independent predictors of ACS. CONCLUSION: Non-obstructive CTLDP detected by MSCT yield prognostic information toward the identification of ACS.     

Stress myocardial scintigraphy and dobutamine echocardiography in the detection of coronary disease in asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this prospective study were: (1) to compare stress thallium-201 single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and dobutamine echocardiography (DE) in the detection of silent myocardial ischemia (SMI) in asymptomatic high risk diabetic patients; (2) to analyse long-term outcome after intensive care of SMI in these patients. METHODS: SPECT was performed in 100 high risk diabetic patients and DE in the first 75 patients. Coronary angiography was realized in patients with SMI, with revascularization for suitable lesions. Intensive treatment of atherosclerosis risk factors was performed in all patients. Patients were followed 2 +/- 0.5 years for the subsequent occurrence of cardiac death, myocardial infarction and revascularization. RESULTS: SMI was detected by SPECT in 62% and by DE in 10% of the patients (p < 0.0001), whereas significant coronary stenosis at angiography was detected by SPECT in 26% and by DE in 5% of the patients (p < 0.02). Independent predictive factors of significant coronary stenosis were male gender (p < 0.03) and peripheral arterial disease (p < 0.007). Nonfatal acute coronary syndrome occurred during follow-up in 2 patients (2%). Subsequent revascularization procedure was needed in 9 patients. Baseline patients' characteristics, as well as SMI, were not predictive of cardiac event during follow up. CONCLUSION: SPECT seems more accurate than DE to detect significant coronary stenosis in high risk asymptomatic diabetic patients. In this population, aggressive treatment of SMI with systematic revascularization combined with intensive care of risk factors is associated with a favorable long-term prognosis, similar in diabetic patients with and without initial SMI.     

Echocardiographic Diagnosis of Subacute Ventricular Wall Rupture Complicating Acute Myocardial Infarction

Rupture of ventricular wall is one of the most threatening complications of acute myocardial infarction. As a rule, it is rapidly lethal, and a precise diagnosis is seldom possible. On the contrary, in the so-called subacute ruptures (about one third of all cases), patients can survive for several hours, allowing time for diagnosis and immediate surgical intervention. We report here the case of one patient with subacute cardiac rupture who was diagnosed with echocardiography and successfully treated with pericardiocentesis and surgery.