Abstract 10604: Critical Role of Cardiac Imaging of Mechanical Complication in ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Left Ventricular Free Wall Rupture Diagnosed With CTA and Echocardiography

Abstract

Case Presentation: An 81-year-old male with a thymoma (treated with surgery including partial pericardiectomy 25 years prior) presented to his local ER with chest pain radiating to his back. Vital signs were stable. EKG showed ST elevations in the lateral leads with Q waves. Troponin was positive. Diagnosis included STEMI as well as possible aortic dissection. CT angiography (CTA) did not show dissection; however, contrast extravasation and left ventricular (LV) free wall rupture was noted. Patient was not given thrombolysis and transferred for tertiary care. On arrival, the patient was pain free, hemodynamically stable, and an echo was obtained. Color Doppler and echo contrast confirmed a LV outpouching along the lateral wall with a “narrow neck” consistent with a pseudoaneurysm (PsA, figure 1). CT surgery declined an emergent operation due to the high risk of mortality with early operative intervention and recommended initial conservative management. After 48 hours, a repeat CTA showed increased size of the PsA (figure 2). The patient chose to be managed medically and eventually passed away 8 days after presentation. Discussion: This patient had a contained LV rupture as a STEMI complication. The CTA showed LV rupture and thrombolysis was avoided. Echo confirmed the diagnosis. This case highlights 1) the utility of imaging in in the diagnosis of LV rupture as it is usually limited by early mortality, and 2) its role in differentiating PsA from true aneurysm, which is characterized by a contained wall rupture while true aneurysms develop due to a weakened, but intact, wall.