Left ventricular rupture following coronary occlusion treated by streptokinase infusion: successful surgical repair.

A 68-year-old man suffered a myocardial infarction and was treated initially with streptokinase infusion, followed by coronary balloon angioplasty. Six hours later he suffered rupture of the free wall of the left ventricle, pericardial tamponade, and cardiac arrest. He was treated successfully by cardiac resuscitation, patch closure of the perforation, and coronary bypass grafting.