Cardiac rupture--challenge in diagnosis and management.

Previous studies of the incidence, natural history, pathogenesis and diagnosis of cardiac rupture are presented, and 20 additional cases described. Progressive cardiorrhexis after myocardial infarction causes death in possibly more than 25,000 persons a year in the United States, and more frequent antemortem diagnosis is needed. Suggestions for future clinical and experimental studies are described and possible means of early diagnosis and therapy are outlined.