ABSTRACT
At necropsy, right ventricular (RV) myocardial infarction secondary to coronary artery disease is observed only in patients with left ventricular (LV) infarction involving the LV posterior (inferior) wall. Although few reports describing patients with anatomically confirmed RV infarction have illustrated an electrocardiogram, it is likely that more than 95% of patients with RV infarction have electrocardiographic evidence of posterior (inferior) LV infarction only. During his 6 days in the hospital, he had recurrent supraventricular tachycardia, which required cardioversion for correction. Chest pain recurred 2 days before death and evidence of congestive heart failure was apparent. On the day of death, the heart rate slowed and fatal asystole occurred. There were no myocardial scars; the anterior LV wall and ventricular septum at the base were necrotic; in the apical portion, the entire LV wall and septum were necrotic, as was the entire posterior and portions of the anterolateral RV wall.
