[Identification of patients at risk of post-infarction heart rupture. Clinical and therapeutic characteristics of 121 consecutive cases and review of the literature].

In patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) since a decrease of deaths due to arrhythmia control and pump failure, rupture of the left ventricle free wall (RPL) has gained increasing importance as a cause of death. Of 4987 patients hospitalised for AMI from January 1969 to December 1993, RPL occurred in 121 patients (2.4%) and 17.6% of total deaths from AMI are the result of this complication. RPL was found more often in women > 75 years old, with a history of hypertension and sustaining a first coronary event. Cardiac rupture occurred after transmural myocardial necrosis, usually (60%) following an anterior AMI. RPL was an early phenomenon (in 40% it occurred within the first 24 hours and in more than 80% within 5 days from symptoms onset). Although RPL is widely considered catastrophic and unexpected, in the greater number of patients it is possible to recognise symptomatic markers (pain, emesis and agitation) indicative of impending rupture. A prompt diagnosis and the consideration that rupture is usually a stuttering process must point out an aggressive approach, which can allow a surgical treatment of RPL with a likely prognosis.