title: Idiopathic mitral valve chordae rupture in an infant: importance of rapid diagnosis and surgery.
abstract: Mitral valve chordae rupture in infancy is a rare, but life-threatening disease. The progression of acute cardiac failure has been reported, with emergency surgery being required in most cases. Mitral valve chordae rupture typically occurs at the age of 4-6 months. Echocardiography is needed to diagnose this disease, and accurate diagnosis is difficult for general pediatricians. We herein describe the case of an acutely ill 4-month-old infant, who was saved and discharged without neurological sequelae due to the early diagnosis of mitral valve chordae rupture, life support, and surgery. We confirm the importance of acute pre-surgery treatment and immediate surgery for the survival and good outcome of infants.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Pediatrics, Tokyo Metropolitan Children Medical Center, Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: Nobuaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Naoya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fukushima
authors.forename: Tadahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
authors.forename: Yukihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Shigeki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsubara
authors.forename: Yukihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
mesh_terms: D002815:Chordae Tendineae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous
keywords: age 4 months; emergency surgery; idiopathic; life-threatening disease; mitral valve chordae rupture