Nigerian Cardiac Society

Cardiovascular Diseases & Diagnosis

A Rare Case of Fatal Left Ventricular Free Wall Rupture: Case Report and Short Review

Abstract

Author(s): Mahmoud Abdelnaby, Abdallah Almaghraby, Yehia Saleh, Muhammad Abdul Haleem, Ashraf ElAmin and Basma Hammad

Left ventricular free wall rupture (LVFWR) is a rare, yet lethal, complication of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), occurring in approximately 2% of cases. In the era of percutaneous coronary intervention, however, it is less frequently encountered.

We were confronted with a case of AMI complicated with LVFWR after receiving thrombolytic therapy. The diagnosis was established using transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). Unfortunately, the patient passed away before surgical intervention. This case demonstrates the importance of prompt diagnosis and management of such a lethal complication.