Papillary Muscle Rupture Following Non-ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Case Report.

Papillary muscle rupture is a serious mechanical complication of acute myocardial infarction typically seen within 5-7 days following transmural ST-elevation myocardial infarction. The incidence of papillary muscle rupture has markedly decreased in the modern era due to improved diagnosis and early coronary revascularization of ST-elevation myocardial infarction. As a result, papillary muscle rupture is increasingly seen following non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction where both diagnosis and revascularization can be delayed. In this report, we describe two cases of papillary muscle rupture following delayed presentation of non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction and delayed recognition of papillary muscle rupture.