Abstract
A 52-year-old man was admitted to the emergency department of the University Hospital after being involved in a car crash. At first he was alert with stable vital parameters. There was bilateral rales on lung auscultation, without further prominent aberrant findings at the initial clinical examination. Shortly after, he became agitated with respiratory distress, resulting into respiratory insufficiency. Computed tomography (CT) scan of the thorax showed multiple rib fractures, a translated sternal fracture and pulmonary contusion. After intubation and stabilization he was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where his respiratory and cardiovascular parameters progressively worsened, leading to cardiogenic shock. An urgent chest X-ray revealed a tension pneumothorax with mediastinal shift to the right, for which a chest tube was inserted in the left hemithorax. No or little improvement was seen after this intervention. Therefore, an emergency transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was performed. Subcostal view showed a severe mitral regurgitation with a mass in the left atrium. Because of a limited transthoracic window, we proceeded to a transoesophageal echocardiogram (TEE). A completely ruptured anterolateral papillary muscle of the mitral valve was seen, protruding in the left atrium and resulting in severe mitral regurgitation (Figure). Other echocardiographic findings were a hyperdynamic systolic function of the left ventricle, a hypo-contractile right ventricle with a mild-to-moderate quantity of pericardial effusion. Taking into account the increased cardiovascular risk profile of the patient, a coronary angiography was performed and showed normal coronary anatomy. Consequently, urgent surgical intervention was performed. Perioperative assessment confirmed the earlier described echocardiographic findings. Due to severe laceration of the left ventricular wall at the level of the attachment site of the anterolateral papillary muscle, reconstructive surgery was not possible. The anterolateral papillary muscle head with the attached mitral valve leaflet was fully excised with repair of the concealed myocardial rupture site. A mechanical mitral valve prosthesis and an intra-aortic balloon pump for hemodynamic support were placed. After four days the balloon pump was removed and the tenth day after admission the patient was extubated.
Conclusion
Acute severe mitral regurgitation due to papillary muscle rupture is a rare but potential fatal complication of a blunt trauma. TOE is essential in early diagnosis.
Abstract 505 Figure 1
Acute Severe Mitral Regurgitation Secondary to Ischemic Papillary Muscle Rupture: A Case Report
