Can the heart explode?

[platapus]

Several of the senior patients I work with have described their heart as "exploding".  Is this possible?  

[Izzy172]

No, although I am a 10 year old, I have intensive learning in chemistry and memorizing to Periodic Table. The heart cannot explode; it is scientifically impossible. (unless you put an explosive in there) which will not happen easily.

[erijon]

That's a myocardial rupture, see the link;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myocardial_rupture

[DPI1016]

I was in the hospital after a tripple bypass I contracted staff and was in ICU after debreeding and I heard the nurse scream "Oh my god". I felt war liquid in my face. she jumped o top of me and stuck her thumb in to the hole in my heart. I was rolled back into surgery and my heart was stiched up. What is that called.  

[JanePublic]

A story.

[erijon]

This term is sometimes used when describing a cardiac rupture in which the necrotic or dead heart muscle from a previous MI will rupture causing an almost instant death.

Jon

[caregiver222]

No. The heart cannot explode. There is no way, shape or form for this to happen.

[Lifememes]

Well, it can, but it can't literally EXPLODE. Part of the heart is basically a muscle, and the muscle can explode. Two bodybuilders had their heart muscle thingy explode, but the whole heart can't.

[ChatterAlly]

I have heard it explained like this also.  But it can't literally "explode".  The vessels can burst and even rip.  I was watching a show recently when Hank Williams' young death was quoted as being caused because his heart "exploded".  He had sudden cardiac arrest.  His heart didn't explode, though.