[Emergency operation for complete papillary muscle rupture after myocardial infarction--a case report of 81-year-old patient].

Mitral regurgitation due to complete rupture of the papillary muscles after myocardial infarction has a very poor prognosis, even if diagnosed and operated on at an early phase. Recently, we performed an emergency operation for mitral regurgitation due to complete papillary muscle rupture after myocardial infarction in an 81-year-old patient. This is probably the oldest case in Japan. Operation revealed complete rupture of the posterior papillary muscle, and valve replacement with a Carpentier-Edwards bioprosthesis was performed.