title: Atrial infarction leading to rupture.
abstract: In the case described, necrosis of the atrial musculature led to rupture of the chamber. This was overlooked for 4 days until the patient died of ventricular rupture. This unusual complication of atrial infarction may be amenable to surgical repair if recognised in time. The high gain recording of P waves in the presence of AV block made it possible to evaluate the P wave changes during atrial infarction: (1) changes in the configuration and width of the P wave, probably resulting from intra-atrial conduction defect; (2) depression of the PR segment (0.04 to 0.07 mV); and (3) a previously unrecorded convexity in the first portion of the PR segment, in the leads in which the depression of the PR segment was observed.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria; D006327:Heart Block / Q000209:etiology; D006341:Heart Rupture / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006352:Heart Ventricles; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D009336:Necrosis; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000150:complications