Acute slit-rupture of LV (“cracked heart”) complicating acute MI: Awareness can avert death!

Acute slit-rupture of left ventricle complicating myocardial infarction (MI) is an extremely dreadful and rare clinical condition often not identified before the patient succumbs. Echocardiographic features and the timing of presentation make it a unique condition, as compared to the subacute variant. Awareness about novel techniques to seal the rupture, besides the prompt recognition and use of these techniques, is important to avert death.