Transesophageal echocardiographic findings in partial and complete papillary muscle rupture complicating acute myocardial infarction.

Papillary muscle rupture occurred in two patients with recent inferior myocardial infarction. In one case with partial rupture transesophageal echocardiography in the standard four-chamber view did not visualize the rupture and in the second case with complete rupture it provided incomplete diagnostic information. A not previously described transgastric longitudinal scanning of the left ventricle provided complete delineation of the lesion and it was of great value in the diagnosis and management of this potentially lethal complication. Both patients were operated upon and had a favourable outcome.