RUPTURE OF THE HEART IN MYOCARDIAL-INFARC TION

To assess value of clinical and echocardiographic data for prognosis o f cardiac rupture 138 patients were examined on the first day of Q-wav e myocardial infarction. Twelve of these patients died of rupture (9 - of the free wall of the left ventricle, 3 - of interventricular septu m). Compared to other patients with myocardial infarction, those with rupture of the heart were older, more frequently had hypercholesterole mia and sedentary lifestyle, but less frequently smoked. These patient s more often had severe heart failure (Killip class III - IV) and high er heart rates. There were no differences in parameters of M-mode, two -dimensional and doppler echocardiography between groups of patients w ith end without subsequent cardiac rupture but the former patients had higher index of left ventricular myocardial asymmetry (ratio of inter ventricular suptum to posterior wall thickness). At multivariate analy sis age and increased heart rate were independent predictors of ruptur e of the heart.