Transesophageal echocardiography and concurrent coronary angiography for the rapid assessment of papillary muscle rupture.
Echocardiography with color flow imaging is valuable for identifying mechanical complications of myocardial infarction.  Transesophageal echocardiography is useful for critically ill patients in whom transthoracic imaging is often insufficient.  A case of papillary muscle rupture is presented in which transesophageal echocardiography was performed concurrently with coronary angiography.  The detailed information obtained from two-dimensional and color flow imaging eliminated the need for diagnostic right heart catheterization and left ventriculography.  Transesophageal echocardiography used in this manner can facilitate expeditious surgical management.
Cardiology Service, Department of Medicine, Fitzsimons Army Medical Center, Aurora, Colorado.
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Kozlowski
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Dorogy
D017023:Coronary Angiography; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications; D010210:Papillary Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous / Q000175:diagnosis*