COVID-19 Fears May Be Worse Than the Virus: A Case of Cardiogenic Shock Secondary to Post-Myocardial Infarction Ventricular Septum Rupture

Division

Capital

Hospital

LewisGale Medical Center

Document Type

Case Report

Publication Date

6-24-2020

Keywords

covid-19, post mi ventricular septum rupture, left to right shunt, cardiogenic shock

Disciplines

Cardiology | Cardiovascular Diseases | Infectious Disease | Internal Medicine | Virus Diseases

Abstract

Since the beginning of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there has been a growing and justifiable fear of catching the virus from the emergency rooms, thus decreasing the hospital visits. With Virginia State slowly reopening and HCA local hospitals resuming elective procedures, the number of emergency room visits, are recovering and increasing. We report a sad and unfortunate case of an 87-year-old female who was experiencing pressure-like chest pain but presented to the emergency room five days later out of fear of catching COVID-19 from the hospital. On presentation to the ED, she was found to have an non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction, which required urgent stenting of the left anterior descending artery. Unfortunately, several hours later, she developed fatal cardiogenic shock due to ventricular septal rupture. We are reporting this case to highlight one of the many potential bad outcomes as a result of a delay in seeking necessary medical attention due to the fear of contracting the virus.

Publisher or Conference

Cureus

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