Papillary muscle rupture of the mitral valve complicating removal of a permanent transvenous electrode.

ince the introduction of transvenous cardiac pacing S by Furman and Schwedell in 1959, numerous reports of unusual complications have appeared. To o w knowledge, rupture of a papillary muscle o r any valvular component has not been reported previously. This report describes a case of mitral valve papillary muscle rupture upon removal of a transvenous pacing electrode. Furthermore, this patient is of interest in that she underwent transvenous permanent cardiac pacing with the electrode positioned in the left ventricle, having passed through a patent foramen ovale, for a period of 20 months.