A case of recent myocardial infarction with cardiac failure

Heart. 2017 Apr;103(7):508-516. doi: 10.1136/heartjnl-2016-309715. Epub 2016 Sep 29.

Abstract

Clinical introduction: A 50-year-old hypertensive smoker presented with a typical angina of 2 days duration. An urgent ECG revealed extensive anterior wall myocardial infarction. In view of the delayed presentation, the patient was conservatively managed with heparin. In-hospital echocardiogram showed akinesia of entire left anterior descending artery (LAD) territory with severe left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. He was discharged with a plan for early coronary intervention. However, he presented a fortnight later with acute pulmonary oedema. General appraisal revealed a restless individual who was dyspnoeic and diaphoretic at rest. On clinical examination, the patient was in hypotension with features of biventricular failure. A 12-lead ECG showed QS pattern with persistent ST segment elevation in precordial leads. The chest radiograph demonstrated features of pulmonary oedema, cardiomegaly and bilateral pleural effusion. Creatine Phosphokinase-MB (CPK-MB) was negative. A preliminary transthoracic echocardiography was done (figure 1 and see online supplementary video 1).

Question: What is the most likely diagnosis based on the echocardiogram? LV pseudo-aneurysm with contained ruptureDissecting intramural haematoma of LV apexVentricular apical aneurysm with thrombusLV non-compaction with prominent ventricular trabaculations.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Video-Audio Media

MeSH terms

  • Anterior Wall Myocardial Infarction / complications*
  • Anterior Wall Myocardial Infarction / diagnostic imaging
  • Anterior Wall Myocardial Infarction / physiopathology
  • Echocardiography, Doppler, Color
  • Heart Aneurysm / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart Aneurysm / etiology*
  • Heart Aneurysm / physiopathology
  • Heart Aneurysm / surgery
  • Heart Failure / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart Failure / etiology*
  • Heart Failure / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pulmonary Edema / etiology
  • Thrombosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Thrombosis / etiology*
  • Thrombosis / physiopathology
  • Thrombosis / surgery
  • Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / diagnostic imaging
  • Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / etiology*
  • Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / physiopathology
  • Ventricular Function, Left