This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Khalil, M. E. Articles by Alhaddad, I. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Khalil, M. E. Articles by Alhaddad, I. A. Pubmed/NCBI databases Medline Plus Health Information Heart Attack Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Ventricular Free Wall Rupture in Acute Myocardial Infarction

Eliot N. Heller, MD

Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY

Fouad Boctor, MD

Department of Pathology, Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY

Edward J. Brown, Jr, MD

Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY

Imad A. Alhaddad, MD

Cardiology Division, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

Despite a progressive reduction in acute myocardial infarction mortality over the years, death related to ventricular free wall rupture has not changed. This is mostly related to the catastrophic presentation and death within minutes in the majority of these patients. Once rupture is suspected, bedside echocardiography should be performed immediately, followed by pericardiocentesis and repair of the rupture site as quickly as possible. Measures to prevent cardiac rupture include the administration of 5-blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors unless contraindications exist, and the avoidance of steroidal and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents such as ibuprofen and indomethacin.

Key Words: acute myocardial infarction • ventricular rupture • infarct expansion

Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Vol. 6, No. 3, 231-236 (2001)
DOI: 10.1177/107424840100600303


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				F. G. Spinale Myocardial Matrix Remodeling and the Matrix Metalloproteinases: Influence on Cardiac Form and Function Physiol Rev, October 1, 2007; 87(4): 1285 - 1342. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. D. Solomon and M. A. Pfeffer Renin-Angiotensin System and Cardiac Rupture After Myocardial Infarction Circulation, October 22, 2002; 106(17): 2167 - 2169. [Full Text] [PDF]