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Cardiology43 papers

Rupture of heart

Last edited: 4/22/2026

Overview

Rupture of the heart, particularly the left ventricular free wall, is a catastrophic complication often associated with myocardial infarction or surgical interventions, leading to hemodynamic instability and high mortality 12.

Diagnosis

  • Key Diagnostic Criteria: Bedside echocardiography is crucial for diagnosing left ventricular rupture, identifying weak ventricular contractions post-QRS complex 2.
  • Recommended Tests: Portable cross-sectional echocardiography for bedside diagnosis; confirmation via necropsy or pericardial paracentesis 2.
  • Grading: No specific grading system mentioned for diagnosis in the provided abstracts.
  • Management

  • First-Line Treatments: Immediate surgical intervention, such as partial translocation techniques to repair the rupture and reimplant prosthetic valves 1.
  • Adjunctive Treatments: Pericardial aspiration to remove blood and potentially restore cardiac function (e.g., aspiration of 100 ml blood) 2.
  • Specific Techniques: Use of mattress stitches with Dacron felt reinforcement and creation of a new mitral annulus with bovine pericardium to avoid mechanical stress on the repair site 1.
  • Special Populations

  • No Specific Data: The provided abstracts do not cover management specifics for pregnancy, pediatrics, elderly, or patients with comorbidities 12.
  • Key Recommendations

  • Utilize bedside echocardiography for rapid diagnosis of left ventricular rupture 2 (Evidence: Moderate).
  • Employ surgical techniques like partial translocation with mechanical reinforcement to repair ruptures and reimplant prosthetic valves 1 (Evidence: Weak).
  • Consider pericardial aspiration to manage hemothorax and potentially stabilize cardiac function in acute cases 2 (Evidence: Weak).
  • References

    1 Yaku H, Shimada Y, Yamada Y, Hayashida K, Fukumoto A, Watanabe T et al.. Partial translocation for repair of left ventricular rupture after mitral valve replacement. The Annals of thoracic surgery 2004. link 2 Hagemeijer F, Verbaan CJ, Sonke PC, De Rooij CH. Echocardiography and rupture of the heart. British heart journal 1980. link

    Original source

    1. [1]
      Partial translocation for repair of left ventricular rupture after mitral valve replacement.Yaku H, Shimada Y, Yamada Y, Hayashida K, Fukumoto A, Watanabe T et al. The Annals of thoracic surgery (2004)
    2. [2]
      Echocardiography and rupture of the heart.Hagemeijer F, Verbaan CJ, Sonke PC, De Rooij CH British heart journal (1980)

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