Postinfarction Rupture of Left Ventricular Free Wall Repaired With a Glued-on Pericardial Patch

In a 68-year-old man admitted in deep shock, prompt echocardiographic diagnosis of post-infarction left ventricular free wall rupture was followed by probably life-saving pericardiocentesis. At emergency surgery a 2 cm linear tear in the antero-lateral wall of the left ventricle was successfully repaired with a glued-on pericardial patch, without infarctectomy or placement of sutures in the infarcted area.