Abstract 11198: Intra-Myocardial Dissecting Haematoma Presented as a Ventricular Tachycardia in a Patient With Remote Silent Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

Intramyocardial dissecting haematoma (IMDH), a rare form of myocardial rupture, is recognised as a complication of acute myocardial infarction (MI) but can also occur as a result of a thoracic trauma or spontaneous rupture of intramural coronary vessels. Before the advent of advanced multi-modality cardiac imaging, IMDH was an autopsy diagnosis. In this report, we present a patient with recent onset of palpitation due to non-compromising ventricular tachycardia (VT). Post cardioversion ECG showed anterior-apical deep Q waves in keeping with prior silent MI. Transthoracic echocardiography showed severely reduced left ventricular ejection fraction due to extensive apical aneurysm and raised the possibility of protruding apical thrombus. Subsequent contrast echocardiography showed features compatible with extensive LV apical thrombus and raised the differential diagnosis of contained myocardial rupture and IMDH. During the two years follow-up guideline directed medical therapy for heart failure and antiarrhythmic medication stabilised patient at NYHA class I-II with no recurrence of VT. Multimodality imaging including cardiac CT and MRI confirmed the suspicion of IMDH. With this case we are highlighting the difficulties in the diagnosis and the controversies of the management of IMDH. Figure: A: ECG shows monomorphic VT. B: after chemical cardioversion, ECG shows sinus rhythm with old transmural extensive anterior MI. C: Transthoracic echocardiography, apical 4 chamber view shows aneurysmatic left ventricular apex with echo lucent space with mobile intraventricular membrane separating the true LV lumen and the dissecting hematoma (Asterix). D: Contrast enhanced echocardiography delineating the true LV cavity from the IMDH. E,F: Contrast enhanced CT showing the low attenuation hematoma located in the anterior LV apex. Note the calcification in the LV apical myocardium indication of prior transmural MI.