Rupture of the left ventricular free wall following mitral valve replacement for mitral stenosis: a cause of complete (fatal) or contained (false aneurysm) cardiac rupture.

Complete or incomplete left ventricular free wall rupture is a known complication of mitral valve replacement. Complete free wall rupture may result in fatal bleeding, whereas incomplete rupture may result in the formation of a pseudoaneurysm with survival possible. Two necropsy patients are described illustrating both of these complications. Proposed mechanisms for injury to the left ventricular free wall are reviewed.