Emergency Department Two-Dimensional Echocardiography in the Diagnosis of Nontraumatic Cardiac Rupture

See related editorial, "Emergency Ultrasound: Echoes of the Future." Myocardial rupture is a catastrophic complication of acute myocardial infarction that usually results in sudden death. If diagnosed quickly, patients with myocardial rupture may be salvaged. This report describes the application of emergency department two-dimensional echocardiography in the diagnosis of six cases of myocardial rupture over two years. Each demonstrated a characteristic hemopericardium on limited single-window examination. These included four patients who met institutional guidelines for thrombolytic therapy. Three patients survived surgical repair, with two long-term survivors. [Plummer D, Dick C, Ruiz E, Clinton J, Brunette D: Emergency department two-dimensional echocardiography in the diagnosis of nontraumatic cardiac rupture. Ann Emerg Med June 1994;23:1333-1342.]