[Rupture of the papillary muscles of the mitrale valve during myocardial infarction].

Between 1967 and 1976, 13 cases of papillary muscle rupture during the acute phase of myocardial infraction were collected. Six patients have been treated surgically during the past three years. Three could undergo surgery by virtue of the use of an intra-aortic counterpulsion balloon. There were no operative deaths. One patient died ten days after surgery as a result of a neurological complication; while a second died 4 months after a successful operation of an undetermined cause. For very satisfactory results were obtained with a follow-up of 7, 16, 18 and 18 months.