Volume 1 Issue 5
In-hospital Acute Papillary Muscle Rupture in SARS- COV 2 Positive Patient Late after Acute Inferior Myocardial Infarction
Tarique S. chachar MD1, Vinayak Vadgaonkar MD2, Nooraldaem Yousif MD, FRCP3, Zaied Arekat FRSCSC4, Fuad AbdulQader FRCP5,
Seham A. Saif ABIM, SBIM*
1.Dr. Tarique Shahzad Chachar, Senior Resident Cardiologist, Mohammed bin Khalifa cardiac center, Kingdom of Bahrain.
2,3,4,5. Mohammed bin Khalifa cardiac center, Kingdom of Bahrain.
*Corresponding Author: Dr. Seham Ali Saif, Consultant Non-Invasive Cardiology, Mohammed bin Khalifa cardiac center, Kingdom of Bahrain.
Received Date: January 25, 2021
Publication Date: February 01, 2021
Abstract
Papillary muscle rupture is one of the rare and potentially life-threatening complications that occurs usually after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Acute papillary muscle rupture (PMR) results in severe mitral regurgitation rapidly progressing to florid pulmonary edema and cardiogenic shock. Without emergent surgical intervention, the mortality is extremely high. The management of STEMI patients in the COVID 19 pandemic is difficult and challenging. We present an unusual case of 56 years old male who presented with acute inferior wall myocardial infarction (IWMI), underwent successful thrombolysis, developed reinfarction 5 days later complicated by acute posteromedial papillary muscle rupture (PPMR) leading to severe acute mitral regurgitation.
Keywords: COVID - 19, mitral regurgitation, papillary muscle rupture, acute myocardial infarction.
In-hospital Acute Papillary Muscle Rupture in SARS- COV 2 Positive Patient Late after Acute Inferior Myocardial Infarction
Papillary muscle rupture is one of the rare and potentially life-threatening complication usually following acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Acute and complete papillary muscle rupture (PMR) results in severe mitral regurgitation rapidly progressing to florid pulmonary edema and cardiogenic shock. (1) Without emergent surgical intervention, the mortality is extremely high.
We present an unusual case of 56 years old male who presented with acute inferior wall myocardial infarction (IWMI) and underwent successful thrombolysis but unfortunately, developed reinfarction 5 days later complicated by acute posteromedial papillary muscle rupture (PPMR) leading to severe acute mitral regurgitation. He was promptly diagnosed and underwent emergent mitral valve replacement.
Case Presentation
A 56-year-old smoker not known to have any medical illness presented to our cardiac center with progressive chest pain of one-hour duration. Initial electrocardiogram (ECG) showed inferior ST-segment elevation (STE) with reciprocal changes in anterior leads (Figure 1A) and ST elevation (STE) in right V4R suggestive of the acute inferior and right ventricular current of injury. His systemic examination was unremarkable. Peak highly sensitive troponin I assay was >25 (Normal range <0.010) and creatine kinase (CK) level 4764 (Normal range 20 – 200 IU/L).
Based on our institutional protocol in the covid-19 era, he underwent thrombolysis with Tenecteplase. His event was complicated with transient hypotension and heart block which resolved spontaneously. He had successful thrombolysis with significant resolution of STE (Figure 1B) and chest pain-free 60 minutes post administration of Tenecteplase. He was managed conservatively on dual antiplatelet therapy and statin.
Figure 1: A- Pre-thrombolysis B– Post-thrombolysis
His GeneXpert test for SARS COV 2 turned out to be positive without any significant constitutional symptoms. He was admitted to COVID 19 intensive care unit with full cardiac monitoring.
Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) revealed akinetic base to mid inferior, inferolateral and lateral walls. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was visually estimated to be 45%. Mild functional mitral regurgitation with insignificant pulmonary hypertension. Normal right ventricular systolic function.
His further stay was uneventful with no symptoms of angina, shortness of breath and constitutional symptoms. He was ambulated from the second day onwards. On the 5th day, he developed severe acute chest pain with diaphoresis. His recorded blood pressure was 70 mmhg systolic, heart rate of 145/minute and pulse oximetry saturation of 70% on room air. On auscultation, He did not have any audible murmur but had extensive rales extending till mid-zones of both lung fields. ECG revealed STE in leads II, III and AVF with reciprocal changes anteriorly (Figure 2) suggesting acute inferior wall re-infarction.
Figure 2: 5th-day post-thrombolysis in COVID ICU
The patient underwent immediate mechanical intubation and started on inotropes. Because of cardiogenic shock, he was emergently taken to the cardiac catheterization laboratory.
Coronary angiogram (CAG) via right radial artery showed subtotal occlusion of proximal right coronary artery (RCA) (Figure 3), his left coronary system did not show any significant lesion. Proximal RCA was stented successfully. He continued to be in pulmonary edema with high inotropic support throughout the procedure.
Figure 3: Coronary angiography – critical stenosis of right coronary artery
Transthoracic echocardiography performed immediately after CAG showed hyperdynamic left ventricle with severe hypokinesis of an inferior and inferolateral wall. There was a chaotic movement of rounded mass in the left ventricle with a complete flail of an anterior mitral leaflet (Figure 4A) and (moving video clip 2). The mass did not prolapse into the left atrium. Short axis view confirmed the mass to be ruptured posteromedial papillary muscle (PMPM) (Figure 4B) and (moving video clip 1) causing a severe acute eccentric posterolateral directed jet of Mitral regurgitation into the non-dilated left atrium (Figure 4C, 4D) and (moving video clip 3). It was difficult to establish whether it was a partial or complete rupture of PPM considering a suboptimal TTE study as it was performed in a hemodynamically unstable patient with respiratory distress.
Figure 4: Transthoracic echocardiography. A- D
Intra-aortic balloon pump was secured for further stabilization and multi-disciplinary team consensus was for urgent mitral valve intervention.
He was subsequently taken to operation theater on full personal protective equipment (PPE). On surgical inspection mitral valve anatomy was unsuitable for repair and hence the decision was taken for emergent mitral valve replacement. Intra-operative findings showed flail and unsupported anterior mitral valve leaflet due to complete rupture of PMPM head. Mitral valve replacement was performed using a 31 mm Magna ease bioprosthetic valve.
The patient was weaned off from IABP and then from inotropes. The hemodynamics improved postoperatively. He was further managed medically.
Discussion
Primary percutaneous intervention (PCI) has revolutionized the treatment in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and tremendously decreased the rate of mechanical complications. In the pre-fibrinolytic period, the rate of mechanical complications was 6%, while it has been reduced to <0.5% in the revascularization era. In an analysis of 4 million hospitalized STEMI patients from 2003 to 2015, mechanical complications have been reported in only 0.27% of patients with PMR incidence as low as 0.05%. (2)
The optimal timing of papillary muscle rupture is 2 to 7 days post-myocardial infarction. Mortality was reported 50% within 24 hrs without surgical intervention. 82% of patients with first myocardial infarction were reported to have papillary muscle rupture. (3,4)
Echocardiography with Doppler is the cornerstone for the diagnosis of this fatal complication. The sensitivity of TTE to visualize the structural abnormalities has been estimated to be 65-85%, with transesophageal echo sensitivity approaching 92-100%.
The rupture of the posteromedial papillary muscle is 6 to 12 times more common than the anterolateral papillary muscle due to its single blood supply from the posterior descending artery of the dominant right coronary artery (RCA) or dominant left circumflex artery (LCX), causing inferior wall myocardial infarction (IWMI). (5) Most cases of PMR occur after small areas of ischemia, usually less than 25% of left ventricular with poor collaterals, and is thought to be due to preserved ventricular function exhibiting increased shear stress to the ischemic papillary muscle. Our patient did not have an audible murmur of severe mitral regurgitation, which could be explained by the rapid equalization of pressures within the left ventricle and left atrium.
This case was unusual as he had successful thrombolytic reperfusion of acute inferior infarction at presentation. Later he again developed in-hospital re-infarction leading to PMR. Whether it is related to COVID-19 infections is unknown to us with a lack of strong evidence.
There have been reports of increased coronary artery thrombus burden in patients with STEMI in COVID 19 positive patients. (6) This is consistent with an increased frequency of thrombotic strokes, particularly in young people, during the pandemic. Alterations in the coagulation system, abnormal platelet function, or abnormal endothelial function have been postulated. (7)
Early diagnosis, prompt hemodynamic support to reduce afterload with appropriate medications as well as with devices like intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), and Tandem heart, and immediate surgical intervention are required to reduce morbidity and mortality due to papillary muscle rupture secondary to Acute myocardial infarction. (8)
Video Legends
Moving Video clip 1: Transthoracic short axis view showing hyperdynamic left ventricle with ruptured PMPM and severe hypokinesis of inferior wall
Moving Video clip 2: Apical long axis showing ruptured PMPM with chaotic movement in LV
Moving Video clip 3: Apical four-chamber view of LV and LA showing severe eccentric posterior directed jet of MR
Moving Video clip 4: Apical long-axis view showing flial anterior mitral leaflet with severe hypokinesis of inferolateral walls
References
4.Harari R, Bansal P, Yatskar L, Rubinstein D, Silbiger JJ. “Papillary muscle rupture following acute myocardial infarction: Anatomic, echocardiographic, and surgical insights”. Echocardiography. 2017 Nov;34(11):1702-1707. https://doi.org/10.1111/echo.13739
5.Kunkel K, Anwaruddin S. “Papillary muscle rupture due to delayed STEMI presentation in a patient self-isolating for presumed COVID-19”. JACC Case Reports.2020 Aug;10(2):1633-1636. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaccas.2020.06.036
Volume 2 Issue 2 February 2021
©All rights reserved by Dr. Seham Ali Saif
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