Cardiac ruptures following myocardial infarction in medicolegal cases

Objective: Characteristics of legal autopsy cases with cardiac rupture following myocardial infarction are investigated in this retrospective observational study and the results are compared with a control group consisting of acute myocardial infarction cases without rupture. Methods: Legal autopsy reports of 50 cases with heart tamponade resulting from heart muscle rupture following myocardial infarction, autopsied at the Morgue Department of the Council of Forensic Medicine between the years 1998-2005 were retrospectively reviewed. Findings were compared to control group consisting of 30 myocardial infarction cases without rupture. Results: The rupture was located in the left ventricle in 48 of 50 cases. At microscopic examination, infarction date was consistent with first three days, 4-7 days and 1-2 weeks for 30, 12 and 8 cases, respectively. The average volume of fluid leading to tamponade was 467 ml in males and 352.3 ml in females. There were no statistical differences between rupture and control groups for existence of hypertrophy and scar tissue in myocardium and advanced atheromatous lesions in coronaries (p>0.05). Considering the manner of death of the cases died due to heart wall rupture and tamponade formation, 28 of the cases were found dead at home, 6 died suddenly by falling to the ground at home or on the street, and 5 were delivered dead to the hospital. Conclusion: The rupture was located in the left ventricle in almost all cases. Ruptures in the left ventricle were found most frequently in the anterior wall. There was no relationship between development of rupture and existence of hypertrophy and scar tissue in myocardium, and advanced atheromatous lesions in coronaries.

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