Types of free wall rupture according to time of occurrence or form of presentation
| Time of occurrence | |
| 1. Early rupture (⩽ 48 hours) | –delayed hospital admission |
| –persistent pain (> 4–6 hours) | |
| –acute arterial hypertension | |
| –frank and persistent ST segment elevation (except in lateral infarctions) | |
| 2. Late rupture (> 48 hours) | –recurrent chest pain |
| –persistent ST segment elevation | |
| –“undue” physical exercise | |
| –infarct extension | |
| –infarct expansion | |
| Form of presentation | |
| 1. Acute rupture | –acute tamponade with sudden electromechanical dissociation or severe hypotension |
| 2. Subacute rupture | –moderate to severe pericardial effusion: |
| (a) with tamponade and haemodynamic compromise with modest or progressive hypotension | |
| (b) without tamponade |