Fatal cardiac rupture among patients treated with thrombolytic agents and adjunctive thrombin antagonists Observations from the Thrombolysis and Thrombin Inhibition in Myocardial Infarction 9 Study

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence and demographic characteristics of patients experiencing cardiac rupture after thrombolytic and adjunctive anticoagulant therapy and to identify possible associations between the mechanism of thrombin inhibition (indirect, direct) and the intensity of systemic anticoagulation with its occurrence. BACKGROUND Cardiac rupture is responsible for nearly 15% of all in-hospital …