A case report of rescue of a patient with a left ventricular free wall rupture associated with a small subtle ST-elevation myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular (LV) free wall ruptures (LVFWRs) of myocardial infarctions (MIs) are still one of the most fatal mechanical complications after an acute MI (AMI). LVFWRs are estimated to occur in 0.01% to 0.52% of patients following an ST-elevation MI (STEMI) and are rarely reported in the setting of a non- or subtle-ST-elevation MI. CASE SUMMARY: We herein present a report of a 92-year-old male rescue case with an LVFWR following a small subtle-STEMI. Contrast cardiac computed tomography was useful to diagnose the LVFWR. An emergent cardiac surgery was performed. Finally, the patient’s life was saved. DISCUSSION: This case demonstrates that even without clinical evidence of transmural infarction such as non- or subtle-STEMI, those patients may carry a risk of fatal complications including LVFWR, especially in older age and a first lateral wall AMI without collateral flow, as in this present case. Thus, the physicians should be aware of the possibility of LVFWRs even in the setting of an AMI without or with subtle-ST-elevation. High clinical suspicion and vigilance are the cornerstones of a timely and accurate diagnosis of LVFWR. This is the first report of a rescue case of a patient with an LVFWR associated with a subtle-STEMI.