EARLY DETECTION OF LEFT-VENTRICULAR ANEURYSM RUPTURE BY 2-DIMENSIONALECHOCARDIOGRAPHY AND SURGICAL SALVAGE

A 52-year-old man was admitted to hospital emergency room with cardiog enic shock. The electrocardiogram showed normal tracing. Left ventricu lar aneurysm rupture al the posterolateral wall and haemopericardium w as diagnosed with two-dimensional and colour Doppler echocardiography. The patient was operated on immediately and the defect was repaired. The patient made a good recovery. Four months later coronary angiograp hy and left ventriculography were performed. The coronary vessels were found patent and there was minimal stenosis (lesser than 50 %) at the proximal 1/3 portion of left anterior descending (LAD) arterty. Left ventriculography showed anterolateral and posterolateral hypokinesis. The patient was symptom free and leading an active life 4 months later .