Left Ventricular Rupture as a Complication of Anterior Wall Myocardial Infarction on Computed Tomography Angiography and Ventriculography

Abstract

Rupture of the free wall of the left ventricle, rupture of the interventricular septum and acute mitral regurgitation are mechanical complications of myocardial infarction. They are rare; left ventricular rupture occurs in about 2–4% of patients with myocardial infarction. We present the case of an 85-year-old woman with an anterior wall infarction complicated by left ventricular rupture. We present diagnostic images of pathology visualized by computed tomography angiography, performed in order to exclude aortic dissection as the cause of the presence of fluid in the pericardial sac. Images from ventriculography are also presented. Summing up, during the diagnostic and therapeutic process of acute coronary syndrome, it is important to bear in mind the risk of possible complications, such as left ventricular rupture.

Keywords

• left ventricular rupture
• myocardial infarction
• computed tomography angiography