Apparently Spontaneous Partial Rupture of Anterolateral Papillary Muscle Requiring Urgent Surgery

Papillary muscle rupture is a rare complication of myocardial infarction. Here we describe a case of an apparently spontaneous rupture of papillary muscle, not associated with coronary obstruction. The patient was a 73-year-old man admitted to our hospital for diabetic ketoacidosis complicated by acute pulmonary edema and cardiogenic shock. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography showed partial rupture of papillary muscle leading to severe mitral regurgitation. Urgent cardiac surgery with mitral valve replacement was performed.