Today we learned about a very uncommon mechanical complication after MI to a patient with subacute pleuritic pain and dyspnea and found to have an inferior MI on EKG. A TTE was concerning for an aneurysm and a left heart cath revealed a large aneurysm on the LV-gram.

We reviewed the common complications after MI (arrhythmia and heart failure) as well as the three major mechanical complications after MI (all of which are exceptionally rare). They all can occur 0-14 days after MI. We did not discuss, Dressler syndrome, which can occur a few weeks to even a year after MI and is fever

Ventricular Septal Defect

• presents as a holosytolic murmur along left sternal border, often with a thrill
• EKG findings are non-specific
• TTE reveals a high velocity L->R shunt

Papillary Muscle Rupture

• presents as a holosytolic murmur along left sternal border and apex;
• EKG findings are usually associated with inferior/inferior-posterior wall MI
• TTE reveals a flail leaflet with severe mitral regurgitation

LV Free Wall Rupture

• presents as hypotension, JVD, distant heart sounds
• EKG findings are non-specific
• TTE reveals a pericardial effusion with tamponade, discrete wall motion abnormality; a defect in the myocardium can sometimes be seen
• if the rupture is incomplete and contained within the pericardium, this can cause a pseudoaneurysm and is highly prone to rupture. surgical intervention is the treatment of choice