The case of a 53-year-old male patient is presented who experienced acute left ventricular rupture 12 hours after a myocardial infarct. Immediately following emergency right heart catheterization and pericardiocentesis the patient was operated upon after preliminary institution of femoro-femoral partial heart-lung bypass. Left ventricular rupture in the area of an apical infarct was found which was successfully treated by direct closure.
The patient made a complete recovery subsequent to a complicated postoperative course.
Acute myocardial infarction - Acute left ventricular rupture - emergency open heart surgery
