Study of mechanical complications in patients with acute ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction.

This prospective observational study aimed to determine the proportion of mechanical complications in patients with acute STEMI and assess the associated outcomes. The study was conducted between June'21 and May'22, including 1307 patients. Mechanical complications were evaluated using 2D-Echo. Among the STEMI patients, 17 individuals (1.3 %) experienced mechanical complications. The most prevalent complication was FWR (n = 9), followed by VSR(n = 7) and PMR (n = 1). However, despite their low incidence, mechanical complications carry a significant mortality burden. Mortality rates were higher in older age and female patients.

ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: Management and association with prognosis during the COVID-19 pandemic in France.

BACKGROUND: Systems of care have been challenged to control progression of the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether this has been associated with delayed reperfusion and worse outcomes in French patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is unknown. AIM: To compare the rate of STEMI admissions, treatment delays, and outcomes between the first peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in France and the equivalent period in 2019. METHODS: In this nationwide French survey, data from consecutive STEMI patients from 65 centres referred for urgent revascularization between 1 March and 31 May 2020, and between 1 March and 31 May 2019, were analysed. The primary outcome was a composite of in-hospital death or non-fatal mechanical complications of acute myocardial infarction. RESULTS: A total of 6306 patients were included. During the pandemic peak, a 13.9±6.6% (P=0.003) decrease in STEMI admissions per week was observed. Delays between symptom onset and percutaneous coronary intervention were longer in 2020 versus 2019 (270 [interquartile range 150-705] vs 245 [140-646]min; P=0.013), driven by the increase in time from symptom onset to first medical contact (121 [60-360] vs 150 [62-420]min; P=0.002). During 2020, a greater number of mechanical complications was observed (0.9% vs 1.7%; P=0.029) leading to a significant difference in the primary outcome (112 patients [5.6%] in 2019 vs 129 [7.6%] in 2020; P=0.018). No significant difference was observed in rates of orotracheal intubation, in-hospital cardiac arrest, ventricular arrhythmias and cardiogenic shock. CONCLUSIONS: During the first peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in France, there was a decrease in STEMI admissions, associated with longer ischaemic time, exclusively driven by an increase in patient-related delays and an increase in mechanical complications. These findings suggest the need to encourage the population to seek medical help in case of symptoms.

Unusual presentations of cardiac rupture during COVID-19 pandemic.

The Covid-19 pandemia has many other undesirable consequences apart of virus infection. Less people is hospitalized due to acute coronary syndrome and the delay to seek medical attention has increased. Patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction arrive at the hospital too late to be timely treated and we have recently seen mechanical complications that were more frequent in the past decades before the use of reperfusion strategies. In this report we describe the presentation, evolution and detailed imaging evaluation of two patients with unusual presentations of cardiac rupture: left ventricular pseudoaneurysm and left ventricular intramyocardial dissecting hematoma.

Association between acute myocardial infarction-to-cardiac rupture time and in-hospital mortality risk: a retrospective analysis of multicenter registry data from the Cardiovascular Research Consortium-8 Universities (CIRC-8U).

Despite the known association of cardiac rupture with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), it is still unclear whether the clinical characteristics are associated with the risk of in-hospital mortality in patients with AMI complicated by cardiac rupture. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between the time of cardiac rupture occurrence and the risk of in-hospital mortality after AMI. We conducted a retrospective analysis of multicenter registry data from eight medical universities in Eastern Japan. From 10,278 consecutive patients with AMI, we included 183 patients who had cardiac rupture after AMI, and examined the incidence of in-hospital deaths during a median follow-up of 26 days. Patients were stratified into three groups according to the AMI-to-cardiac rupture time, namely the > 24-h group (n = 111), 24-48-h group (n = 20), and < 48-h group (n = 52). Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) and the confidence interval (CI) for in-hospital mortality. Around 87 (48%) patients experienced in-hospital death and 126 (67%) underwent a cardiac surgery. Multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed a non-linear association across the three groups for mortality (HR [CI]; < 24 h: 1.0, reference; 24-48 h: 0.73 [0.27-1.86]; > 48 h: 2.25 [1.22-4.15]) after adjustments for age, sex, Killip classification, percutaneous coronary intervention, blood pressure, creatinine, peak creatine kinase myocardial band fraction, left ventricular ejection fraction, and type of rupture. Cardiac surgery was independently associated with a reduction in the HR of mortality (HR [CI]: 0.27 [0.12-0.61]) and attenuated the association between the three AMI-to-cardiac rupture time categories and mortality (statistically non-significant) in the Cox model. These data suggest that the AMI-to-cardiac rupture time contributes significantly to the risk of in-hospital mortality; however, rapid diagnosis and prompt surgical interventions are crucial for improving outcomes in patients with cardiac rupture after AMI.

Impact of COVID-2019 outbreak on prevalence, clinical presentation and outcomes of ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to report the prevalence, clinical features and outcomes of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) hospitalized during the Corona-Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak compared with those admitted in a previous equivalent period. METHODS AND RESULTS: Eighty-five patients admitted for STEMI at a high-volume Italian centre were included. Patients hospitalized during the COVID-19 outbreak (21 February-10 April 2020) (40%) were compared with those admitted in pre-COVID-19 period (3 January-20 February 2020) (60%). A 43% reduction in STEMI admissions was observed during the COVID-19 outbreak compared with the previous period. Time from symptom onset to first medical contact (FMC) and time from FMC to primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) were longer in patients admitted during the COVID-19 period compared with before [148 (79-781) versus 130 (30-185) min; P = 0.018, and 75 (59-148)] versus 45 (30-70) min; P < 0.001]. High-sensitive troponin T levels on admission were also higher. In-hospital mortality was 12% in the COVID-19 phase versus 6% in the pre-COVID-19 period. Incidence of the composite end-point, including free-wall rupture, severe left ventricular dysfunction, left ventricular aneurysm, severe mitral regurgitation and pericardial effusion, was higher during the COVID-19 than the pre-COVID-19 period (19.6 versus 41.2%; P = 0.030; odds ratio = 2.87; 95% confidence interval 1.09-7.58). CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the STEMI care system reducing hospital admissions and prolonging revascularization time. This translated into a worse patient prognosis due to more STEMI complications.

A real-world analysis of cardiac rupture on incidence, risk factors and in-hospital outcomes in 4190 ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients from 2004 to 2015.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac rupture is a disastrous but uncommon complication of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The incidence, risk factors and in-hospital outcomes related to cardiac rupture in the current era are unknown. METHODS: This study consecutively collected all acute STEMI patients admitted to a single tertiary center in China from January 2004 to December 2015. Characteristics of each cardiac rupture were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Among 4190 patients, 75 (1.8%) patients had cardiac rupture, including 33 at the ventricular septum and 42 at the left ventricle free wall (LVFW). Patients with cardiac rupture were more likely to be female, with more advanced age, lower rate of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI), and higher in-hospital mortality. Compared with survivors, the death cases were older, had a higher white blood cell count, higher rate of delayed admission (>12 h from symptom onset to door), earlier occurrence of cardiac rupture, higher percentage of LVFW rupture and lower rate of surgical repair. Logistic regression analysis showed that surgical repair served as the most valuable factor affecting survival. Moreover, elevated white blood cell count and advanced age might be related to an increased in-hospital death due to cardiac rupture. CONCLUSIONS: In this contemporary cohort, female sex, advanced age and low rate of PPCI post-STEMI are associated with an increased risk of cardiac rupture. Advanced age and elevated white blood cell count might be related to an increased in-hospital mortality after cardiac rupture, whereas surgical repair served as the most valuable factor affecting survival.

Temporal Trends and Outcomes of Mechanical Complications in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the temporal trends and outcomes of mechanical complications after myocardial infarction in the contemporary era. BACKGROUND: Data regarding temporal trends and outcomes of mechanical complications after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) are limited in the contemporary era. METHODS: The National Inpatient Sample database (2003 to September 2015) was queried to identify all STEMI and NSTEMI hospitalizations. Temporal trends and outcomes of mechanical complications after STEMI and NSTEMI, including papillary muscle rupture, ventricular septal defect, and free wall rupture, were described. RESULTS: The analysis included 3,951,861 STEMI and 5,114,270 NSTEMI hospitalizations. Mechanical complications occurred in 10,726 of STEMI hospitalizations (0.27%) and 3,041 of NSTEMI hospitalizations (0.06%), with no changes in trends (p = 0.13 and p = 0.83, respectively). The rates of in-hospital mortality in patients with mechanical complications were 42.4% after STEMI and 18.0% after NSTEMI, with no significant trend changes (p = 0.62 and p = 0.12, respectively). After multivariate adjustment, patients who had mechanical complications after myocardial infarction had higher in-hospital mortality, cardiogenic shock, acute kidney injury, hemodialysis, and respiratory complications compared with those without mechanical complications. Predictors of lower mortality in patients with mechanical complications who developed cardiogenic shock included surgical repair in the STEMI and NSTEMI cohorts and percutaneous coronary intervention in the STEMI cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Contemporary data from a large national database show that the rates of mechanical complications are low in patients presenting with STEMI and NSTEMI. Post-myocardial infarction mechanical complications continue to be associated with high mortality rates, which did not improve during the study period.

Comparison in Prevalence, Predictors, and Clinical Outcome of VSR Versus FWR after Acute Myocardial Infarction: The Prospective, Multicenter Registry MOODY Trial-Heart Rupture Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Differences in the predictors between ventricular septal rupture (VSR) and free wall rupture (FWR) have not been fully studied. Data on the prevalence and clinical outcome of heart rupture are limited. HYPOTHESIS: This study aimed to investigate heart rupture incidence and clinical results in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: Of 9265 AMI patients in the MOODY registry between March 1999 and October 2016, a total of 146 were studied. The primary clinical endpoint was rupture prevalence and in-hospital mortality. Independent factors of heart rupture were analyzed using Cox proportional model and were compared between patients with VSR and those with FWR. RESULTS: Of 9265 AMI patients, 146 (1.58%) patients had a heart rupture (FWR, 94 (1.02%)) and VSR (52 (0.56%)). All patients with FWR died during hospitalization, and in-hospital mortality was recorded in 37 (71.2%) patients with VSR, who had an extremely longer time delay from AMI onset to the first medical contact (FMC) (~20 h). FWR usually occurred in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients with a FMC ≥ 3 h, for whom primary reperfusion was not performed. Percutaneous repair at 1-2 weeks following AMI was associated with less mortality, and 9 of 38 patients who underwent non-primary reperfusion died post procedure. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the importance of shortening FMC to prevent VSR and of early primary reperfusion in STEMI patients to reduce FWR. Urgent closure of rupture is necessary to reduce in-hospital and 1-year mortality. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: http://www.clinicaltrials.org, identifier: No. NCT03051048.

Temporal Trends in Mechanical Complications of Acute Myocardial Infarction in the Elderly.

BACKGROUND: Reperfusion therapy led to an important decline in mortality after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Because the rate of cardiogenic shock has not changed dramatically, the authors speculated that a reduction in the incidence or fatality rate of mechanical complications (MCs), the second cause of death in these patients, could explain this decrease. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to assess time trends in the incidence, management, and fatality rates of MC, and its influence on short-term mortality in old patients with STEMI. METHODS: Trends in the incidence and outcomes of MC between 1988 and 2008 were analyzed by Mantel-Haenszel linear association test in 1,393 consecutive patients ≥75 years of age with first STEMI. RESULTS: Overall in-hospital mortality decreased from 34.3% to 13.4% (relative risk reduction, 61%; p < 0.001). Although the absolute mortality due to MC decreased from 9.6% to 3.3% (p < 0.001), the proportion of deaths due to MC among all deaths did not change (28.1% to 24.5%; p = 0.53). The incidence of MC decreased from 11.1% to 4.3% (relative risk reduction 61%) with no change in their hospital fatality rate over time (from 87.1% to 82.4%; p = 0.66). The proportion of patients undergoing surgical repair decreased from 45.2% to 17.6% (p = 0.04), with no differences in post-operative survival (from 28.6% to 33.3%; p = 0.74). CONCLUSIONS: Although the incidence of MC has decreased substantially since the initiation of reperfusion therapy in elderly STEMI patients, this reduction was proportional to other causes of death and was not accompanied by an improvement in fatality rates, with or without surgery. MCs are less frequent but remain catastrophic complications of STEMI in these patients.

Apoptosis inhibitor of macrophage depletion decreased M1 macrophage accumulation and the incidence of cardiac rupture after myocardial infarction in mice.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac rupture is an important cause of death in the acute phase after myocardial infarction (MI). Macrophages play a pivotal role in cardiac remodeling after MI. Apoptosis inhibitor of macrophage (AIM) is secreted specifically by macrophages and contributes to macrophage accumulation in inflamed tissue by maintaining survival and recruiting macrophages. In this study, we evaluated the role of AIM in macrophage accumulation in the infarcted myocardium and cardiac rupture after MI. METHODS AND RESULTS: Wild-type (WT) and AIM‒/‒ mice underwent permanent left coronary artery ligation and were followed-up for 7 days. Macrophage accumulation and phenotypes (M1 pro-inflammatory macrophage or M2 anti-inflammatory macrophage) were evaluated by immunohistological analysis and RT-PCR. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity levels were measured by gelatin zymography. The survival rate was significantly higher (81.1% vs. 48.2%, P<0.05), and the cardiac rupture rate was significantly lower in AIM‒/‒ mice than in WT mice (10.8% vs. 31.5%, P<0.05). The number of M1 macrophages and the expression levels of M1 markers (iNOS and IL-6) in the infarcted myocardium were significantly lower in AIM‒/‒ mice than in WT mice. In contrast, there was no difference in the number of M2 macrophages and the expression of M2 markers (Arg-1, CD206 and TGF-ß1) between the two groups. The ratio of apoptotic macrophages in the total macrophages was significantly higher in AIM‒/‒ mice than in WT mice, although MCP-1 expression did not differ between the two groups. MMP-2 and 9 activity levels in the infarcted myocardium were significantly lower in AIM‒/‒ mice than in WT mice. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that AIM depletion decreases the levels of M1 macrophages, which are a potent source of MMP-2 and 9, in the infarcted myocardium in the acute phase after MI by promoting macrophage apoptosis, and leads to a decrease in the incidence of cardiac rupture and improvements in survival rates.

Development and validation of clinical risk score to predict the cardiac rupture in patients with STEMI.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac rupture (CR) is a fatal complication of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) with poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to develop and validate practical risk score to predict the CR after STEMI. METHODS: A total of 11,234 STEMI patients from 7 centers in China were enrolled in our study, we firstly developed a simplified fast-track CR risk model from 7455 STEMI patients, and then prospectively validated the CR risk model using receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves by the other 3779 consecutive STEMI patients. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02484326. RESULTS: The incidence of CR was 2.12% (238/11,234), and the thirty-day mortality in CR patients was 86%. We developed a risk model which had 7 independent baseline clinical predictors (female sex, advanced age, anterior myocardial infarction, delayed admission, heart rate, elevated white blood cell count and anemia). The CR risk score system differentiated STEMI patients with incidence of CR ranging from 0.2% to 13%. The risk score system demonstrated good predictive value with area under the ROC of 0.78 (95% CI 0.73-0.84) in validation cohort. Primary percutaneous coronary intervention decreased the incidence of CR in high risk group (3.9% vs. 6.2%, p<0.05) and very high risk group (8.0% vs. 15.2%, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A simple risk score system based on 7 baseline clinical variables could identify patients with high risk of CR, for whom appropriate treatment strategies can be implemented.

Long-term outcome and risk prediction in patients suffering acute myocardial infarction complicated by post-infarction cardiac rupture.

BACKGROUND: Post-infarction cardiac rupture (CR) such as ventricular septal rupture (VSR), free wall rupture (FWR), atrial septal rupture (ASR) or papillary muscle rupture (PMR) is a rare but dreaded complication in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) associated with a very poor prognosis with reported mortality rates between 60 and 100%. Therefore suitable risk stratification for secondary prevention seems crucial, but data on long-term survival und risk prediction in this especially vulnerable patient collective remains scarce. METHODS: Out of 11,641 patients presenting with AMI a total of 28 individuals suffering post-infarction CR were identified and stratified in "acute survivors of CR" (n=10) and "non-survivors of CR" (n=18). Cox regression hazard analysis was used to assess prognosticators on long-term survival. RESULTS: Ten patients (35.7%) survived the initial event. After a median follow-up time of 9years 2 (20%) of the survivors died, both due to cardiovascular causes. Younger age (p=0.023) and higher systolic blood pressure at admission (p=0.018) turned out to be significant predictors of long-term survival. Systolic blood pressure 48h after CR proved to be a strong and independent predictor for survival with an adjusted hazard ratio per one standard deviation of 0.89 (95% CI: 0.72-0.99; 0.048). CONCLUSION: Hemodynamic stabilization and severity of cardiogenic shock were detected as clinically most common among patients suffering post-infarction CR and proved to be of major importance for survival. If survival of the initial event was achieved, satisfying long-term mortality could be reached.

Commonalities of cardiac rupture (left ventricular free wall or ventricular septum or papillary muscle) during acute myocardial infarction secondary to atherosclerotic coronary artery disease.

Although mortality rates during acute myocardial infarction (AMI) continue to drop, cardiac rupture (left ventricular free wall [LVFW] or ventricular septum [VS] or papillary muscle [PM] or combination) remains relatively common. The aim was to identify commonalities among patients with AMI complicated by cardiac rupture. During a 22-year period (1993-2014) 64 patients hospitalized for AMI were studied and clinical and morphologic variables in those with (25 patients) - vs - those without (39 patients) cardiac rupture were compared, and previous reports on this topic were reviewed. Compared to the non-rupture cases, the rupture group was significantly older (71 years - vs - 60 years); had a much higher frequency of huge deposits of adipose tissue in the heart (floated in formaldehyde) (88% - vs - 20%) but a lower mean body mass index (28.2 Kg/m(2) - vs - 33.2 Kg/m(2)); a much lower frequency of healed myocardial infarct (scar) (4% - vs - 28%); a lower frequency of diabetes mellitus (24% - vs - 47%), and a higher frequency of thrombolytic therapy during the fatal AMI (32% - vs - 10%). None of the rupture cases had evidence of dilated left ventricular cavities or evidence of heart failure before the AMI complicated by rupture. In conclusion, cardiac rupture appears to account for a high percent of deaths during a first AMI. It most commonly occurs in patients with extremely fatty hearts and in those without evidence of prior heart failure.

Trends in the clinical and pathological characteristics of cardiac rupture in patients with acute myocardial infarction over 35 years.

BACKGROUND: There is little known about whether the clinical and pathological characteristics and incidence of cardiac rupture (CR) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have changed over the years. METHODS AND RESULTS: The incidence and clinical characteristics of CR were investigated in patients with AMI, who were divided into 3 cohorts: 1977-1989, 1990-2000, and 2001-2011. Of a total of 5699 patients, 144 were diagnosed with CR and 45 survived. Over the years, the incidence of CR decreased (1977-1989, 3.3%; 1990-2000, 2.8%; 2001-2011, 1.7%; P=0.002) in association with the widespread adoption of reperfusion therapy. The mortality rate of CR decreased (1977-1989, 90%; 1990-2000, 56%; 2001-2011, 50%; P=0.002) in association with an increase in the rate of emergent surgery. In multivariable analysis, first myocardial infarction, anterior infarct, female sex, hypertension, and age >70 years were significant risk factors for CR, whereas impact of hypertension on CR was weaker from 2001 to 2011. Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) was a significant protective factor against CR. In 64 autopsy cases with CR, myocardial hemorrhage occurred more frequently in those who underwent PPCI or fibrinolysis than those who did not receive reperfusion therapy (no reperfusion therapy, 18.0%; fibrinolysis, 71.4%; PPCI, 83.3%; P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: With the development of medical treatment, the incidence and mortality rate of CR have decreased. However, first myocardial infarction, anterior infarct, female sex, and old age remain important risk factors for CR. Adjunctive cardioprotection against reperfusion-induced myocardial hemorrhage is emerging in the current PPCI era.

Clinical manifestation of early phase left ventricular rupture complicating acute myocardial infarction in the primary PCI era.

OBJECTIVE: Before reperfusion therapy was introduced, the incidence of ventricular septal and left ventricular free wall rupture complicating acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was 1-3%. Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was expected to reduce the incidence of such mechanical complications. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed 1290 AMI patients referred to our institute from January 2005 to January 2011. Primary PCI was done in 1002 cases of the study patients (77.7%). RESULTS: Ventricular septal rupture (VSR) occurred in 19 cases (1.5%) and left ventricular free wall rupture (LVFR) in 17 cases (1.3%). Mean observation periods from onset to VSR and LVFR were 2.6 days. We demonstrated that risk factors for LV rupture were advanced age, female sex, absence of history of angina or myocardial infarction, lack of previous PCI, and absence of previous hypertension. Coronary angiography revealed that the culprit lesions of the left anterior descending artery or single vessel disease were the risk factors for LV rupture. Furthermore, in the present observation, 9 patients (47.4%) with VSR and 8 patients (47.1%) with LVFR developed LV rupture within 24h after symptoms onset (early rupture). The early rupture demonstrated extremely poor outcome compared with late rupture (in-hospital mortality was 88.2% in early rupture and 63.1% in late rupture). CONCLUSION: Even in the patients' cohort with higher prevalence of primary PCI, LV rupture cases were not decreased in contrast to our expectations. More attention should be paid to early LV rupture cases within 24 h from symptom onset in those cases.

Clinical features of early myocardial rupture of acute myocardial infarction.

We assessed the clinical features of patients with myocardial rupture within 48 to 72 hours, defined as early myocardial rupture, after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI). Six patients (4 men, 66 ± 13 years) with early myocardial rupture were identified from 1252 consecutive patients undergoing PCI for STEMI. We evaluated the degree of microvascular reperfusion using thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) myocardial perfusion (TMP) grade and a resolution of sum of ST-segment elevation in a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG). Time from PCI to myocardial rupture was 11 ± 7 hours. All patients showed TMP grade 0 or 1 and an increase in sum of ST-segment elevation after PCI (1.9 ± 0.5 vs 2.5 ± 0.7 mV; P = .032), suggesting severely failed reperfusion at the level of microcirculation as the common feature to develop early myocardial rupture after PCI for STEMI.

Mechanical complications following acute myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE: To outline the outcome and management of patients with acute myocardial infarction presenting with mechanical complications such as post-infarction ventricular septal defect, mitral regurgitation and left ventricular rupture. METHODS: The retrospective study, conducted in September and October, 2010 at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, included cases from January 1990 to December 2009. Only 18 cases were found who had presented with such complications. They were assessed for demographics as well as pre-operative, per-operative and post-operative management patterns. Data was analysed using SPSS version 17.0. RESULTS: Out of the 18 patients, 10 had post-infarction ventricular septal defect, while 8 had mitral regurgitation defects. The mean time from myocardial infarction to the diagnosis of mechanical complications was 5.28 +/- 4.07 days, and from diagnosis to repair was 2.00 +/- 1.49 days. Overall, there were 3 in-hospital mortalities. CONCLUSION: The optimal timing of surgical intervention has always remained debatable. A high-level of clinical suspicion and earlier intervention can reduce morbidities and mortalities.

Hospital outcome of moderate to severe pericardial effusion complicating ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Hospital prognosis of moderate to severe pericardial effusion (MPE; ≥10 mm) in ST-elevation myocardial infarction is largely unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: Data from 446 ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients, 228 with MPE-88 with cardiac tamponade (CT) and electromechanical dissociation (EMD), 44 with CT without EMD (w/oEMD), and 96 without initial CT-and 218 with small PE (5 to 9 mm), were compared. Patients with MPE without initial CT were also compared with 96 patients without PE. CT patients showed larger PE (P<0.001) than those without initial CT; 85% of those with CT+EMD and 86% with CTw/oEMD were treated with pericardiocentesis and 10% and 21% were treated with a surgical repair, respectively. Among MPE patients, 30-day mortality was 43% and was higher in those with CT+EMD (operated, 89%; and nonoperated, 85%) than in those with CTw/oEMD (22% and 11%, respectively; P<0.001) and those without initial CT (17%; P<0.001). It was also higher than in patients with small PE (10%; P<0.001) or those without PE (6%; P=0.001). Death was attributable to cardiac rupture in 83% of patients with CT+EMD, 7% with CTw/oEMD, and 8% with MPE without initial CT and occurred late (≥7 days) in 14%, 67%, and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: MPE carries an increased mortality that is highest in patients with CT+EMD. In those with CTw/oEMD, however, mortality is considerably low after pericardiocentesis, and subsequent management may be individualized because a conservative approach is often successful. Importantly, MPE patients without initial CT are not free from late rupture and deserve further investigation.

Fatal myocardial rupture after acute myocardial infarction complicated by heart failure, left ventricular dysfunction, or both: the VALsartan In Acute myocardial iNfarcTion Trial (VALIANT).

BACKGROUND: Myocardial rupture is a relatively rare and usually fatal complication of myocardial infarction (MI). Early recognition of patients at greatest risk of myocardial rupture provides an opportunity for early intervention. METHODS: VALIANT was a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial comparing valsartan, captopril, and their combination in high-risk patients post-MI. Myocardial rupture was identified by autopsy (available in 138/589 patients dying within 30 days of index MI), echocardiography, direct surgical visualization, or presence of hemopericardium. An independent clinical end points committee reviewed medical records for all deaths or suspected nonfatal cardiovascular events. RESULTS: Rupture was identified in 45 (0.31%) patients enrolled in VALIANT, occurring 9.8 +/- 6.0 days after the qualifying MI. Rupture accounted for 7.6% (45/589) of all deaths occurring in the first 30 days of follow-up and 24% (33/138) of deaths in which autopsies were obtained. Compared with survivors, rupture was associated with increased age, hypertension, increased Killip class, lower estimated glomerular filtration rate, and Q wave MI, and inversely related to beta-blocker and diuretic use. Compared with patients who died of other causes within 30 days, patients with myocardial rupture were more likely to have had an inferior MI, Q wave MI, or hypertension; to have used oral anticoagulants; or to have received thrombolytic therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Although rare, myocardial rupture accounted for nearly one fourth of all deaths within the first 30 days after high-risk MI, suggesting an estimated incidence of approximately 1% within the first 30 days. A number of clinical characteristics may identify post-MI patients at higher risk of myocardial rupture.

[Surgical treatment of early complications after ST-elevation myocardial infarction]. / Trattamento chirurgico delle complicanze precoci nell'infarto miocardico con sopraslivellamento del tratto ST.

Cardiac rupture is a fatal complication of myocardial infarction that may involve especially the left ventricular free wall, the ventricular septum and the papillary muscle, but also the right ventricular free wall and more rarely the atrium. This complication is responsible for 10-15% of in-hospital deaths after ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Advanced age, female sex, first infarction and hypertension (in the acute phase of infarction) are the most important risk factors for cardiac rupture. It occurs typically between 4 and 7 days after the infarction but it may also develop within the first 24-48h, particularly in patients undergoing fibrinolytic therapy and in cardiac patients with the following characteristics: 1) recent coronary artery occlusion, 2) transmural necrosis, 3) poor collateral circulation, and 4) minimal or absent myocardial fibrosis. Cardiac rupture should be suspected when sudden or rapidly progressive hemodynamic deterioration occurs. After prompt diagnosis and stabilization, the patient can be operated. The high mortality rate between 5 and 14 days post-infarction justifies the urgency of surgical repair, which includes infartectomy and the employment of a Dacron patch and biological glues. Also percutaneous strategies have recently been used in patients with high surgical risk. The most frequently performed surgical techniques for the treatment of cardiac rupture are described below. By now early diagnosis and surgical treatment are crucial for successful outcome.