Echocardiographic Contrast Delineation of Left and Right Ventricular Dissection

BACKGROUND: Post-myocardial infarction (MI) ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a life-threatening complication that may involve ventricular septal dissection. There are few reports describing combined VSD and right ventricular free wall dissection or the use of echocardiographic contrast to delineate this pathology. CASE SUMMARY: A 77-year-old patient with a history of coronary artery bypass presented with MI. Two-dimensional echocardiography and echocardiographic contrast-enhanced imaging helped to delineate a VSD with a complex dissection network extending into the right ventricular free wall. DISCUSSION: This case underscores the importance of echocardiographic contrast agents for prompt and thorough evaluation of post-MI dissection networks, which was critical for facilitating diagnosis and guiding clinical decision-making. TAKE-HOME MESSAGE: This case highlights the use of echocardiographic contrast agents to delineate a complex dissection network involving both ventricles originating from a VSD in a patient after MI.