Ruptured papillary muscle after mitral valve replacement with preservationof chordae tendineae

Many cardiac surgeons believe strongly that every effort should be made to preserve the continuity of the mitral anulus, chordae tendineae, and papill ary muscles during mitral valve replacement in order to maximize ventricula r function and maintain normal ventricular geometry. We treated a patient w ith spontaneous papillary muscle rupture after mitral valve replacement in whom efforts had been made to preserve continuity of the mitral mechanism. (C) 2001 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.