Left Ventricular Rupture

This image-based case report describes a 72-year-old woman who presented with epigastric pain, nausea, dyspnea, and malaise over five days. ECG revealed anterolateral ST-segment elevations, prompting urgent transfer for percutaneous coronary intervention. During catheterization via radial access, she suffered cardiac arrest. Ultrasound revealed a large pericardial effusion, and pericardiocentesis restored circulation. Ventriculography confirmed a free-wall rupture of the left ventricle and occlusion of a diagonal coronary branch. Continuous autotransfusion from pericardial drainage into a peripheral vein stabilized the patient, who then underwent surgical repair of the ventricular rupture and coronary bypass grafting. The rupture was a late complication of myocardial infarction. The patient recovered, and her ejection fraction at 6 months was 52%.

This image-based case report describes a 72-year-old woman who presented with epigastric pain, nausea, dyspnea, and malaise over five days. ECG revealed anterolateral ST-segment elevations, prompting urgent transfer for percutaneous coronary intervention. During catheterization via radial access, she suffered cardiac arrest. Ultrasound revealed a large pericardial effusion, and pericardiocentesis restored circulation. Ventriculography confirmed a free-wall rupture of the left ventricle and occlusion of a diagonal coronary branch. Continuous autotransfusion from pericardial drainage into a peripheral vein stabilized the patient, who then underwent surgical repair of the ventricular rupture and coronary bypass grafting. The rupture was a late complication of myocardial infarction. The patient recovered, and her ejection fraction at 6 months was 52%.