Echo features of posteromedial papillary muscle rupture without papillary muscle prolapse into the left atrium.

A 67-year-old male presented to the hospital emergency department with a 3-day history of decreased exercise tolerance, fatigue and exertional chest tightness. These symptoms began after an initial episode of prolonged chest pain associated with diaphoresis and dyspnea.. The admission electrocardiogram (EKG) and cardiac “markers” were consistent with a recent inferolateral myocardial infarction (MI). There was no history of cardiovascular disease. Risk factors were that of a family history of heart disease, long-standing tobacco use and elevated lipids. The patient was on no medications. Bedside echocardiography (TTE) revealed left ventricular (LV) basal inferior-inferolateral aneurysmal formation with mild mitral regurgitation (MR). Significant aortic sclerosis was noted (movie clip S1). Because of continued exertional chest pain up through admission, diagnostic angiography was performed. The coronary tree was codominant, with only disease in the circumflex system noted. A large obtuse marginal (OM) branch of the circumflex artery was occluded and could not be opened percutaneously. Left ventriculography was consistent with findings by TTE, with inferobasal dyskinesis noted. The following morning, the patient developed sudden dyspnea, hypotension and pulmonary edema. Cardiac auscultation revealed only a soft systolic murmur, heard at the left sternal border and also apex. The EKG was unchanged, except that Mobitz Type I AV block developed. The patient required endotracheal intubation with mechanical ventilation, along with inotropic support.