Morphologic types of ventricular free wall rupture

Six morphologic tyes of ventricular free wall rupture were identified at autopsy or surgery in 28 patients: 1: Through and through rupture of the infarcted area with normal wall thickness; 2: Expansion of soft necrotic zone with rupture of the wall; 3: Numerous small perforations within an area of myomalacia (multicanalicular rupture); 4: Rupture of the outer layers of the infarcted area in presence of normal wall thickness; 5: Large epicardial hematoma under pressure (covert rupture); 6: Hemorrhagic infarction with grossly intact but abraded and leaking epicardial surface (bleeding infarct).