title: Echocardiography and rupture of the heart.
abstract: In four patients with rupture of the free wall of the left ventricle, the diagnosis was made at the bedside using a portable cross-sectional echocardiograph; this was confirmed at necropsy in two patients and by paracentesis in the other two. Weak ventricular contractions were seen after each QRS complex of the electrocardiogram, contradicting a widespread belief that cardiac rupture immediately produces electromechanical dissociation. In one patient aspiration of 100 ml blood from the pericardium allowed resumption of cardiac pump function; this patient survived for three days but was allowed to die because of cerebral damage sustained during resuscitation.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004452:Echocardiography; D006341:Heart Rupture / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006352:Heart Ventricles; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications