Male adolescent with cardiac rupture after blunt thoracic trauma.

Blunt cardiac injury, including a rupture of the atria or ventricle, is most commonly caused by motor vehicle collisions and falls from great heights. A rupture of a cardiac chamber is an extremely rare diagnosis with a high mortality rate. The best chance at survival can only be accomplished with timely intervention.To raise awareness of this potentially life-threatening injury, we describe the case of a male adolescent with cardiac rupture after blunt thoracic trauma. While the focused assessment with sonography in trauma (FAST) examination was negative, an additional CT showed pericardial effusion. During the operation a rupture of the right ventricle was observed.Even though the physical recovery of our patient is remarkable, the traumatic event still affects his mental well-being and activities in daily life. This case emphasises the need of a multidisciplinary approach to achieve the best possible physical and psychological recovery in multitrauma patients.

Up against the wall - emergency double myocardial rupture repair.

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular free wall rupture (LVFWR) and interventricular septal rupture (VSR) are potentially catastrophic mechanical complications after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). When they occur together, "double myocardial rupture" (DMR), survival is unlikely. DMR is seen in only 0.3% of all AMIs. With or without surgical intervention, the odds are against the patient. CASE PRESENTATION: A 57-year-old male self-referred to the emergency department of a remote hospital 5 days after first experiencing chest pain. Investigations in ED confirmed an inferior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) complicated by DMR. Coronary angiography revealed a mid-course total occlusion of the right coronary artery (RCA). He was rapidly transferred to our regional cardiac surgical unit, arriving straight into the operating theatre, in cardiogenic shock. He was briefly conscious, before arresting prior to intubation and being massaged onto bypass. Not only did he survive the all-night operation, requiring a mitral valve replacement in the process, but he survived multiple postoperative complications to be eventually transferred on postoperative day 66, neurologically intact, to a peripheral unit to complete his rehabilitation. He was subsequently discharged home 88 days after the operation and was able to ambulate with a walking frame into his first postoperative follow-up clinic appointment. CONCLUSIONS: Our patient, against all odds, has survived DMR and multiple postoperative complications. We present the details of his case and the literature surrounding the condition. The patient's mental fortitude and his supportive family played a significant role, along with excellent multidisciplinary team work, in assuring his survival.

Managing blunt cardiac injury.

Blunt cardiac injury (BCI) encompasses a spectrum of pathologies ranging from clinically silent, transient arrhythmias to deadly cardiac wall rupture. Of diagnosed BCIs, cardiac contusion is most common. Suggestive symptoms may be unrelated to BCI, while some injuries may be clinically asymptomatic. Cardiac rupture is the most devastating complication of BCI. Most patients who sustain rupture of a heart chamber do not reach the emergency department alive. The incidence of BCI following blunt thoracic trauma remains variable and no gold standard exists to either diagnose cardiac injury or provide management. Diagnostic tests should be limited to identifying those patients who are at risk of developing cardiac complications as a result of cardiac in jury. Therapeutic interventions should be directed to treat the complications of cardiac injury. Prompt, appropriate and well-orchestrated surgical treatment is invaluable in the management of the unstable patients.

Acute Mitral Regurgitation Due to Chordae Tendineae Rupture: A Rare Presentation of Cardiac Amyloidosis.

BACKGROUND In cardiac amyloidosis (CA), misfolded proteins deposit in the extracellular space of cardiac tissue. These deposits classically cause restrictive cardiomyopathy with diastolic dysfunction. Although there are at least 30 proteins known to cause amyloid aggregates, 2 main types make up most diagnosed cases: light chain amyloidosis (AL) and transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR). Since CA is considered a rare condition, it is often underdiagnosed or recognized in the advanced stages. Once amyloid deposits involve the heart tissue, they are associated with a worse outcome and higher mortality rates, especially in patients presenting symptoms of heart failure. CASE REPORT We report a case of a 22-year-old man presenting with acute severe mitral regurgitation, secondary to posterior mitral leaflet chordae tendineae rupture (CTR). Surgical mitral valve replacement with a mechanical prosthesis was performed, and cardiac tissue biopsy samples were obtained. After surgery, the patient improved significantly but suddenly presented with hemodynamic deterioration, until he died due to severe hemodynamic compromise and multiorgan failure. Although the etiology of the CTR was not established before surgical intervention, the histopathological analysis suggested CA. CONCLUSIONS CA diagnosis can be complex, especially in a 22-year-old-man with atypical clinical and imaging manifestations. In this patient, other differential diagnoses were considered, since CA presenting in a young patient is a rare phenomenon and acute mitral regurgitation secondary to CTR presents more frequently in other heart conditions. Furthermore, rapid postoperative deterioration resulted in the patient's death before biopsy samples were available because suspicion of amyloidosis had not been raised until that point.

Acute mitral valve regurgitation secondary to papillary muscle rupture due to infective endocarditis.

BACKGROUND: Papillary muscle rupture due to infective endocarditis is a rare event and proper management of this condition has not been described in the literature. Our case aims to shed light on treatment strategies for these patients using the current guidelines. CASE PRESENTATION: This case presents a 58-year-old male with acute heart failure secondary to papillary muscle rupture. He underwent an en bloc resection of his mitral valve with a bioprosthetic valve replacement. Specimen pathology later showed necrotic papillary muscle due to infective endocarditis. The patient was further treated with antibiotic therapy. He recovered well post-operatively and continued to do well after discharge. CONCLUSION: In patients who present with papillary muscle rupture secondary to infective endocarditis, clinical symptoms should drive the treatment strategy. Despite the etiology, early mitral valve surgery remains treatment of choice for patients who have papillary muscle rupture leading to acute heart failure. Culture-guided prolonged antibiotic treatment is vital in this category of patients, especially those who have a prosthetic valve implanted.

Conservative treatment of left ventricular pseudoaneurysm after mitral valve replacement due to early left ventricular rupture: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular pseudoaneurysm due to early left ventricle rupture is a serious complication after cardiac surgery. Urgent surgery is recommended in most cases with a high mortality rate. Conservative treatment of a left ventricular pseudoaneurysm due to early left ventricle rupture is very rare. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a 61-year-old woman with left ventricular pseudoaneurysm after mitral valve replacement due to early left ventricle rupture. This patient was treated in a conservative approach. This patient had an uneventful recovery. She was in good condition and remained asymptomatic 3.5 years after mitral valve surgery. CONCLUSION: This case suggests that medical treatment left ventricular pseudoaneurysm patients has a limited but acceptable role in selected and unusual circumstances.

Mid-Term Follow-Up of Neonatal Neochordal Reconstruction of Tricuspid Valve for Perinatal Chordal Rupture Causing Severe Tricuspid Valve Regurgitation.

BACKGROUND: Papillary muscle rupture in the perinatal period is a rare event that leads to severe mitral or tricuspid insufficiency due to a flail leaflet. Neonatal tricuspid chordal reconstruction for this condition is rarely reported. Early recognition and treatment have the potential to be lifesaving. We present our surgical experience with five such patients, along with their midterm follow-up. METHODS: Between August 2010 and November 2012, five neonates (aged 1-30 days) underwent surgery for severe atrioventricular valve regurgitation. All neonates had severe tricuspid regurgitation due to ruptured chordae. In addition, two had moderate mitral regurgitation; one due to ruptured chordae of the posterior mitral leaflet and the other due to prolapse of the anterior mitral leaflet. All underwent emergent surgery where the ruptured chordae to the anterior tricuspid leaflet were replaced with neochordae made with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) suture. The mitral valve was repaired in two patients. RESULTS: All patients survived surgery without the need for postoperative mechanical circulatory assist. Predischarge echocardiograms showed good coaptation of tricuspid and mitral leaflets with minimal regurgitation in all. At follow-up between 75 months to 102 months, four patients had excellent outcomes with less than mild tricuspid regurgitation. One child with flail tricuspid and mitral leaflets developed progressive tricuspid and mitral regurgitation requiring surgical re-repair at 20 months following the initial surgery. CONCLUSION: Repair of chordal rupture of the tricuspid valve in neonates using ePTFE neo-chordae can provide acute salvage and gratifying midterm results in the management of this potentially fatal condition.

A Coronary Conundrum: Papillary Muscle Rupture and Ischemic Mitral Regurgitation Secondary to Coronary Thromboembolism in Antiphospholipid Syndrome.

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disorder that has a strong propensity for a hypercoagulable state and is known to be associated with venous and arterial thromboembolism. We describe an uncommon case of APS in the setting of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, with thromboembolism, and a rare complication after an uncommon etiology of myocardial infarction. This case highlights the importance of early and appropriate type of anticoagulation to reduce the morbidity and mortality in patients with APS.

Idiopathic Acute Mitral Regurgitation Due to Chordal Rupture in Infants: Surgical Management and Results.

OBJECTIVE: Emergency surgical treatment is required for idiopathic acute mitral regurgitation due to chordae rupture in infants. Nevertheless, mitral valve repair for such a patient population still remains challenging. We report our experience with mitral valve repair for idiopathic acute mitral regurgitation due to chordae rupture in infants. METHODS: From 2005 to 2017, six infants (four boys) were diagnosed with acute mitral regurgitation due to chordae rupture and underwent mitral valve repair. The median age, mean body weight, and median follow-up period were 5.5 months (range: 4-9 months), 6.8 kg (range: 5.5-8.0 kg), and 6.4 years (range: 6 months to 10 years), respectively. RESULTS: In all cases, surgical intervention was performed within 24 hours of admission. Artificial chordae reconstruction and paracommissural edge-to-edge repair were utilized in three and four cases, respectively, while Kay's annuloplasty was performed in all cases. Mean cardiopulmonary bypass time and aortic cross-clamp time were 117 minutes (range: 70-143 minutes) and 73 minutes (range: 35-108 minutes), respectively. No early or late deaths and reoperations had occurred during the follow-up period. Moreover, postoperative mitral regurgitation was significantly reduced, while no chronologic progression of mitral regurgitation was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of various techniques, such as artificial chordae reconstruction, paracomissural edge-to-edge repair, and Kay's annuloplasty, can be a promising surgical option for idiopathic acute mitral regurgitation due to chordae rupture in infants.

[Left Ventricular Rupture during Both Mitral and Aortic Valve Replacements].

A 73-year-old woman on hemodialysis was transferred to our hospital for surgical treatment of heart valve disease. She required both mitral and aortic valve replacement with mechanical valves, associated with tricuspid annuloplasty. After aortic de-clamping, a massive hemorrhage from the posterior atrioventricular groove was observed. Under repeated cardiac arrest, the left atrium was reopened, the implanted mitral prosthetic valve was removed and a type I left ventricular rupture (Treasure classification) was diagnosed. The lesion was directly repaired with mattress stitches and running sutures, using reinforcement materials such as a glutaraldehyde-treated bovine pericardium. To avoid mechanical stress by the prosthetic valve on the repaired site, a mechanical valve was implanted using a translocation method. The patient suffered from aspiration pneumonia and disuse atrophy for 3 months. However, she was doing well at 1 year post-operation.

Left atrial myxoma, ruptured chordae tendinae causing mitral regurgitation and coronary artery disease.

Mitral regurgitation is uncommon with left atrial myxoma. The echocardiographic assessment of presence of mitral regurgitation and its severity are impaired by the presence of left atrial myxoma. We describe an uncommon association of left atrial myxoma with coronary artery disease and mitral regurgitation. MR was reported as mild on pre-operative transthoracic echocardiography but found to be severe due to ruptured chordae tendinae during intra-operative transesophageal echocardiography, which lead to change in the surgical plan to mitral valve replacement in addition to excision of myxoma.

Mitral valve plasty for idiopathic rupture of mitral valve posterior chordae in infants.

INTRODUCTION: Idiopathic mitral valve chordal rupture is rare among infants. Once it has occurred, acute heart failure progresses, and emergency surgical repair is necessary in most cases. Our surgical experience with idiopathic mitral valve chordal rupture is reported. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From September 2008 to May 2012, four infants (3 males, 1 female; median age 5.5 months) underwent mitral valve plasty for severe mitral valve regurgitation due to prolapse of posterior mitral valve leaflet. Patient history, surgical procedure, operation time, mortality, postoperative echocardiography data (mitral valve regurgitation grade: 0-trivial, mild, moderate, severe, transmitral flow: TMF) and pathology were examined. RESULTS: Three cases required emergency surgery; 1 case, elective surgery. Intraoperative findings showed chordal rupture of the P2 segment in 3 cases and P1 + P3 segments in 1 case. Quadrangular resection with annular plication was performed for 1 case. Quadrangular resection with annular plication and the Kay procedure were performed for 3 cases. Mitral valve regurgitation improved from severe to trivial-mild in all cases. Pathological examination showed a myxomatous degenerative change in the mitral valve. CONCLUSION: Mitral valve plasty was performed for idiopathic mitral valve chordal rupture in infants. The surgical procedures were the same as for adult cases and achieved satisfactory results.

Left ventricular noncompaction complicated by mitral valve prolapse: report of a case.

A 31-year-old male was diagnosed with congestive heart failure due to left ventricular noncompaction and coarctation of the aorta by echocardiography and computed tomography. He also developed mitral valve prolapse of the posteromedial commissural leaflet due to rupture of chordae tendineae. Segmental leaflet resection was performed with ring annuloplasty. Aorto-bifemoral bypass was carried out simultaneously to attenuate the ventricular afterload. His postoperative course was uneventful.

Mitral regurgitation due to chordae tendineae rupture in an infant with aortic coarctation.

A 2-month-old male suddenly developed mitral regurgitation aggravation while waiting for surgical repair of aortic coarctation. There were no signs of infection or history of trauma. Emergency surgery was performed, during which rupture of chordae tendineae of the A2 portion of the anterior mitral leaflet was confirmed. At last follow-up, 11 months postsurgery, the patient was in an acceptable state, with continuing moderate mitral valve regurgitation. This case demonstrates an unusual but dangerous natural course of aortic coarctation and suggests an additional basis of urgent repair of aortic coarctation.

Three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography: diagnosing intraoperative pulmonary artery thrombus.

A 61-year-old patient with the diagnosis of acute heart failure based on severe mitral valve insufficiency due to chordae rupture was scheduled for surgery. Intraoperatively, a standard two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiogram (2D-TEE) examination, revealed severe mitral valve regurgitation due to a prolaps with chordal rupture and an echo dense structure in the pulmonary artery (PA). Because it was not possible to visualize this echo dense structure fully with 2D-TEE we performed a three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiogram (3D-TEE). On the basis of the clear demonstration on 3D-TEE of an at least 6-cm thrombus in the PA we decided to remove the thrombus prior to proceeding with the mitral valve repair. We conclude that 3D-TEE can alter surgical management and provide more valuable information on PA thrombus than that obtained by 2D-TEE.

Transthoracic echocardiography of ruptured chorda tendinea.

The discovery of a left ventricular mass obliges the clinician to perform a differential diagnosis including tumour or lipoma versus thrombus. The discovery of a left ventricular outflow tract obstruction by a mitral mass also obliges the clinician to perform a differential diagnosis including vegetations versus rupture of the chordae tendineae and its assessment also presents important clinical implications. Echocardiographic diagnosis of rupture of the chordae tendineae may be difficult to make. We present a case of ruptured chorda tendinea. Also this case focuses attention on differential diagnosis of a mitral mass.