Complete rupture of the posterior papillary muscle caused by late reperfusion for acute myocardial infarction

We describe a patient with acute mitral regurgitation due to complete rupture of the papillary muscle immediately after successful late reperfusion for inferior myocardial infarction. An 81-year-old woman was admitted complaining of mild chest discomfort. Although the electrocardiograms, biochemical test results, and her clinical history showed that several days had passed since the onset of acute myocardial infarction, a late coronary stenting was performed. Immediately after successful stenting, she suddenly developed acute pulmonary edema, leading to cardiogenic shock. In addition to high pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (mean 35 mmHg), color Doppler imaging revealed massive mitral regurgitation caused by complete rupture of the posterior papillary muscle. Emergent mitral valve replacement with a prosthetic valve was performed, saving the patient. Hence, late reperfusion should be considered carefully when treating a patient with a high risk, such as an elderly patient or a patient with single-vessel disease or initial transmural myocardial infarction.