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Myocardial rupture is a laceration or tearing of the walls of the ventricles or atria of the heart, of the interatrial or interventricular septum, of the papillary muscles or chordae tendineae or of one of the valves of the heart. Causes include acute myocardial infarction, cardiac trauma, cardiac infection, cardiac tumors, infiltrative diseases of the heart and aortic dissection. The most common cause is myocardial infarction, with the rupture typically occurring three to five days after infarction. Symptoms of myocardial rupture are recurrent or persistent chest pain, syncope, and distension of jugular veins. The diagnosis can be confirmed with echocardiography. It has a high mortality and requires immediate surgical intervention. Medications may be used to stabilize patients awaiting emergency surgery.
