SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME OF A LEFT-VENTRICULAR FREE-WALL RUPTURE IN A COMMUNITY-HOSPITAL - CASE-REPORT

Rupture of the myocardium in the setting of acute myocardial infarctio n has a universally grim prognosis. The time that elapses between diag nosis and definitive therapy is the most critical determinant of the p atient's outcome when death is not instantaneous. Survivors of this ca tastrophic event have not been frequently reported. We present a case of free wall left ventricular rupture in a patient with an acute myoca rdial infarction hospitalized in the Cardiac Care Unit of a small comm unity hospital. The patient was successfully transferred to the referr al institution for surgery. Rapid diagnosis, primary bedside therapy, and utilization of new surgical techniques helped obtain a good outcom e.