Purpose: Free wall cardiac rupture (CR) is one of the most common cause of in-hospital death in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The early diagnosis of CR and selection of the patients predisposed to CR become an important clinical tool.
Aim: assessing the occurrence of CR in patients with AMI, to determine the factors which could help to identify the patients threatened with CR.
Material and methods: 2320 consecutive patients with AMI. CR was proved by autopsy or by echocardiography performed during cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Results: In-hospital mortality was 11% (254 patients). 50 patients (2%) died from CR. CR was the cause of 20% of total in-hospital death. Patients with CR were older than survivors (72 vs 60 years, p<0.0001). Women prevailed in CR group: (62% in CR group vs 27% in the survivors, p<0.01). 29% of patients were treated with thrombolytics (Th+). Out of 58 patients from Th (+) group who died, 17 (29.31%) died because of CR. CR occurred in 33 (16.8%) patients out of 196 died in Th (-) group. In the logistic regression analysis only age and sex remained as predictors of CR. 16 patients died from CR during first 24 h from admission (ECR). In 34 patients CR occurred >24 h (LCR). In ECR group were no prevalence of women, while in LCR women constituted 68%. In ECR group all but one patient had no previous history of MI (p=0.06). Frequency of thrombolythic therapy was equal.
Conclusions: Advanced age patients, particularly women with first AMI are at risk of CR. Decision of thrombolytic treatment in this group of patients must be very cautious.